Full Breakdown
Record Number of Police Complaints in England and Wales
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Findings
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) reported that 43 police forces in England and Wales logged a total of 108,897 complaints between April 2025 and March 2026. This marks a 15 percent increase on the previous year and the largest annual rise since the 2020/21 redefinition of a complaint. The surge pushed the total above the 100,000-complaint threshold for the first time on record.
Complaint Profile
The IOPC’s analysis broke down the complaints as follows:
- 55 percent related to allegations of poor service.
- 22 percent concerned police powers and policy.
- 11 percent involved accusations against individual officers or staff.
- 3 percent (5,061 allegations) were classified as discriminatory behaviour, including 2,398 race-related, 1,116 disability-related, and 728 sex-related claims.
During the reporting year, 107,616 complaints were finalised—a 17 percent rise on the prior year. Of these, 70,041 were resolved informally, while 37,575 proceeded formally under Schedule 3 of the Police Reform Act 2002.
Official Perspective
David Ford, the IOPC’s director of oversight and casework, attributed part of the increase to improved recording practices and the growing accessibility of the complaints system. He noted that artificial intelligence (AI) tools have made it easier for members of the public to lodge complaints, especially for those who previously found the process challenging. Ford emphasized that the rise should not be interpreted solely as heightened public dissatisfaction, adding that many forces have adopted changes such as centralising complaint receipt, which has led to more matters being formally recorded.
Outcomes of Formal Reviews
Of the 3,273 formal reviews completed, the IOPC found that complaints were handled appropriately in 73 percent of cases. Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of formally handled cases resulted in an explanation being given, 7 percent led to learning outcomes for individuals or forces, and 8 percent concluded with an apology or debrief. Ford described the three-quarter approval rate as “pleasing,” underscoring the importance of public confidence in the policing complaints system.