Compliments and complaints

The Police & Crime Commissioner is not the Appropriate Authority for complaints of this nature. Should you wish to make a complaint in relation to Cheshire Constabulary or the conduct of a person serving with Cheshire Constabulary (for example, a police officer, police staff member, special constable, designated volunteer or a person contracted to provide services to the Chief Constable), such complaints should be referred to Cheshire Constabulary Professional Standards Department (PSD).

For additional information and to make a complaint, please visit the complaints section on the Cheshire Constabulary website.

Alternatively, you can make a complaint via the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) website.

If you are unhappy about the outcome of your complaint, or about how your complaint was handled by Cheshire Constabulary, you can submit an application for review to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Please note, depending on the circumstances of your initial complaint, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) may be the relevant review body. The determination in relation to who the relevant review body should be will be made by Cheshire Constabulary.

In accordance with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) statutory guidance, the review will not be a reinvestigation of your complaint, but rather to determine whether the outcome of your complaint was reasonable and proportionate. For additional information, the IOPC statutory guidance is available via the IOPC website.

Applications for review must be received within 28 days from the day after the date stated on your outcome letter from Cheshire Constabulary. For example, if your letter is dated 1st April, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner must receive your application for review by 29th April.

The Police & Crime Commissioner is responsible for recording and investigating complaints against the Chief Constable of Cheshire Constabulary. Any complaint specifically about the Chief Constable should be made in writing to the Chief Executive of the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner at the following address:

Chief Executive
Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner
Runcorn Town Hall
Heath Road
Runcorn
WA7 5TD

Email: pcc@cheshire-pcc.gov.uk (opens email application)

Please note that if your complaint relates to the Deputy Chief Constable, an Assistant Chief Constable or any other employee of Cheshire Constabulary, this should be referred to Cheshire Constabulary Professional Standards Department (PSD).

The Police and Crime Commissioner is committed to upholding the highest standards of public office to ensure that public confidence in policing is maintained. The Police and Crime Commissioner has, therefore, adopted a code of conduct.

The Police and Crime Panel for Cheshire is responsible for receiving, assessing and recording complaints against both the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner. The Panel also has responsibility for resolving all non-criminal complaints. If the complaint or conduct matter involves or appears to involve a criminal offence, the Police and Crime Panel must refer the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Cheshire East Council is responsible for administering the Police and Crime Panel and can be contacted via the following address:

The Police and Crime Panel for Cheshire
c/o The Chief Executive Cheshire East Council
Municipal Buildings
Earle Street
Crewe
CW1 2BJ

Email: martin.r.smith@cheshireeast.gov.uk (opens email application)

2021

Between June 2021 to December 2021, two complaints against the Police and Crime Commissioner were received by the Police and Crime Panel. As both complaints included criminal allegations against the Police and Crime Commissioner, both complaints were referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in accordance with the mandatory referral criteria.

Following consideration by the IOPC, both complaints were returned to the Police and Crime Panel as the IOPC determined there was no evidence of criminality by the Police and Crime Commissioner. The Police and Crime Panel subsequently determined that both complaints should be closed with no further action taken.

2022

During 2022, two complaints against the Police and Crime Commissioner were received by the Police and Crime Panel. In line with the Panel’s procedure, the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Complaints Management Sub Committee reviewed each complaint, taking advice as appropriate. In each case, the Chair and Deputy Chair determined that there was no legitimate complaint against the Commissioner and both complaints were subsequently closed with no further action taken.

2023

During 2023, two complaints against the Police and Crime Commissioner were received by the Police and Crime Panel. Details of those complaints and outcomes can be found via the Panel’s website.

All staff employed in the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner strive to uphold the highest standards in their interaction with the public. The Police and Crime Commissioner has agreed a code of conduct for staff in the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Should you wish to make a complaint in relation to the actions of a member of staff employed in the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, your complaint should, in the first instance, be referred to the Chief Executive of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner at the following address:

Chief Executive
Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner
Runcorn Town Hall
Heath Road
Runcorn
WA7 5TD

Email: pcc@cheshire-pcc.gov.uk (opens email application)

If your complaint is in relation to the Chief Executive, your complaint should, in the first instance, be referred to the Police and Crime Commissioner at the above address.