Police Complaint Reviews

If you are not satisfied with how your complaint was handled by Greater Manchester Police (GMP), then you may be able to request an independent review by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), as the statutory Relevant Review Body.    

Requesting a Review

If you have made a complaint against GMP, you will receive a letter explaining the outcome and your right to ask for a review of that complaint. That letter will inform you who the Relevant Review Body is and how you can contact them to request a review. If the Relevant Review Body is the GMCA then your request will be dealt with by the GMCA Complaints Review Team, which is independent of GMP. The GMCA cannot carry out a review until your complaint about GMP is finalised.

It is important to note that the review cannot reinvestigate the complaint and will only consider whether the handling of the complaint was reasonable and proportionate.

You can request a review of your complaint by clicking the link below or by downloading a Word version of the form and returning it to us either via email or post. All requests for review must be received within 28 days of the day after the date of the letter from GMP providing you with the outcome of your complaint. This includes the time your letter spends in the post. Requests received after 28 days may not be allowed unless there are special circumstances.

• Complete our online Police Review form (internal webpage)
• Download our review request form (Word version)

If you have any questions regarding the review process or need assistance requesting a review, you can contact us on the details below:

Email: police.reviews@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk

Postal Address:

Police Complaint Reviews
Greater Manchester Combined Authority,
1st Floor, Churchgate House,
56 Oxford Street, Manchester,
M1 6EU

What Happens After you Make a Request for a Review?

When we receive your request, we will check with the organisation that dealt with your complaint to confirm who should be dealing with the review. It is therefore important that you provide us with your consent to do so, there is a section for this on the review form.

If we are not the correct organisation to consider your review, we will advise you who the correct organisation is.

If we are the correct organisation, we will acknowledge your request in writing and let you know the likely time to consider your review. You should ensure that you have provided as much detail as possible regarding your original complaint and the reasons for requesting this review.

The review will consider whether the complaint was handled reasonably and proportionately. If GMCA finds that the handling of the complaint has not been reasonable and proportionate it will uphold the review and provide a recommendation to GMP for the consideration of further action. GMP has 28 days to respond to recommendations and you will receive your final outcome once the GMCA receives this response. 

This decision will be communicated to you in writing, along with a clear and evidence-based report. 

If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the Police Review, such matters can only be dealt with  by requesting a Judicial Review. Further information on this process is available through clicking on the link below:

Form N461: Apply for a judicial review of a decision (Gov.uk)

To find out how we use and manage your data, please view our privacy notice.