Police tape at the cordon of a crime scene.

Complaints about Greater Manchester Police (GMP), its officer or staff


If you have a complaint about Greater Manchester Police (GMP), its officers, or staff, please visit the GMP website - Complaints | Greater Manchester Police (gmp.police.uk)

A complaint is any expression of dissatisfaction with a police force that is expressed by or on behalf of a member of the public. It must be made by a person who meets the definition of a complainant as set out in the Police Reform Act 2002. 

Complaints about specific encounters with GMP officers, or any aspect of GMP policy or performance, should be directed to GMP as they are the Appropriate Authority and will log information about all expressions of dissatisfaction. Ensuring that the correct recording process is followed enables GMP to properly capture feedback about policing in Greater Manchester. This can be used to identify issues, trends and opportunities for learning and improvement.

Contacting GMP in the first instance will also prevent any unnecessary delay in GMP contacting you to discuss options for how the cases meeting the statutory definition of a complaint can be handled and the outcomes that you are seeking.

Regulations prohibit the Mayor and Deputy Mayor (Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)) from intervening directly if you are seeking to make a complaint about a specific incident involving GMP. As a local policing body, GMCA have no legislative authority to investigate public complaints about GMP. To do so would also compromise our prospective role as a Relevant Review Body (RRB) later in the process should you be dissatisfied at the handling of your complaint by GMP. This also applies if you are seeking to make a general comment on GMP policies, performance or conduct. The only exception is where your complaint concerns the conduct of the Chief Constable, please see here:

Complaints about the Chief Constable 

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) provides information on its website about the police complaints process - A guide to the complaints process | Independent Office for Police Conduct (external website).

You can also email the IOPC on enquiries@policeconduct.gov.uk, or call them on 0300 020 0096.