Police Complaints Statistics: What the Data Shows

The IOPC publishes annual statistics on police complaints in England and Wales. These provide a detailed picture of how many complaints are made, what they are about, how they are handled, and what the outcomes are. Understanding the data is important for anyone considering making a complaint or seeking to hold police to account.

In a typical year, around 30,000 complaint cases are recorded across the 43 forces in England and Wales, containing approximately 60,000 individual allegations. The most common allegation categories are: other neglect or failure in duty, incivility, oppressive conduct or harassment, and excessive force. The Metropolitan Police consistently accounts for the largest share of complaints, reflecting its size and the population it serves.

The introduction of the Police (Complaints and Misconduct) Regulations 2020 reformed the complaints system, replacing the old categories of "local resolution", "local investigation", and "managed/independent investigation" with a simpler framework. Under the new system, the majority of complaints are now resolved through "reasonable and proportionate" handling, which may include an explanation, an apology, or action to address the issue. A smaller proportion are formally investigated.

Of complaints that are investigated, only a small proportion result in a finding that an officer's conduct breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour. Fewer still result in misconduct proceedings. The IOPC's data consistently shows that Black people are disproportionately represented among complainants, reflecting broader concerns about the use of police powers. The IOPC also tracks the timeliness of complaint handling: the target is for most complaints to be resolved within 12 months, though complex cases may take longer. Annual reports are published on the IOPC's website and cover all 43 forces.