Police complaints across England and Wales hit record high

Complaints against police forces across England and Wales reached an all-time high last year, surpassing 100,000 for the first time on record, official data revealed.

A total of 108,897 complaints were logged by the 43 forces between April 2025 and March 2026, representing a 15 per cent increase on the previous year, according to a report by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

While complaints have been climbing steadily, this 15 per cent rise marks the largest annual increase since 2020/21, when the current definition of a complaint was first introduced.

The report found that most complaints (55 per cent) concerned allegations of poor service, followed by issues linked to police powers and policy (22 per cent), with 11 per cent involving accusations against individual officers or staff.

Discriminatory behaviour made up 5,061 (3 per cent) of allegations, including 2,398 related to race discrimination, 1,116 to disability, and 728 on the grounds of sex discrimination.

David Ford, the IOPC’s director of oversight and casework, said artificial intelligence (AI) has made it easier than ever for individuals to lodge complaints.

He said: “It’s important not to jump to a conclusion that these figures solely equate to increased dissatisfaction in policing.

“We know through our oversight work with police forces that many are now better at recording and handling complaints. That in part explains the increase.

“It’s also simpler than ever before to register a complaint, especially with the assistance if AI which is making the complaints system more accessible for those who may have previously found it challenging to raise their concerns.

“We’re helping police forces identify ways to improve their complaints handling process. We have seen various police forces adopt a range of changes, such as centralising the receipt of complaints they receive. This is resulting in more matters being formally recorded and reported to us through their submissions.

A total of 107,616 complaints were finalised during the reporting year – up 17 per cent on 2024-25 – with 70,041 resolved informally by forces and a 37,575 dealt with formally under Schedule 3 of the Police Reform Act 2002.

Of the cases handled formally, nearly two-thirds (65 per cent) had at least one allegation resulting in an explanation being given; 7 per cent resulted in learning for an individual or a police force; and 8 per cent ended with an apology or debrief.

Of the 3,273 reviews it completed, the IOPC found complaints were handled appropriately by forces in 73 per cent of cases.

Mr Ford said: “It’s pleasing that almost three-quarters of the reviews we carried out last year concluded that police forces had handled complaints appropriately.

“Members of the public need to have faith in the police complaints system. That’s what we’re here for, to hold policing to account in this regard.”