If you have a complaint to make about the police, you can find useful information here: Complaints about the Police (PDF)
The aim of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) for the Scottish police service is to:
- Provide accessible services that can be used by everyone regardless of their race, age, marital status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, religion or belief, or language spoken;
- Take account of the views and needs of communities when deciding policy, or addressing local community issues;
- Build positive community relations and work in partnership with individuals, groups and agencies to deliver a professional and inclusive policing service. (from ACPOS Diversity Strategy)
As always when writing letters of complaint:
- Be as specific as you can about time, date, and place.
- Be concise.
- Be polite.
If your complaint is about homophobic or transphobic language used by a member of the police force, try to write down as soon as possible after the incident the exact words used.
You can write to the Chief Constable of the police force or to the head of the police organisation concerned. Or you can give the details of your complaint at any police station or to any police officer. Or you can use the e-mail or phone number provided for complaints at the
police websites.
You may also ask a
solicitor,
your MSP or your local councillor to take the matter up with the Chief Constable or with the head of the police organisation on your behalf.
If it appears to you that a member of the police force has broken the law, you can contact the
Area Procurator Fiscal.
If you are not satisfied with how the police have treated your complaint you can then write to Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland (HMICS) explaining what happened and why you are not satisfied. If you decide to do this, you should write to HMCIS as soon as possible after the police let you know how they are dealing with your complaint: if you can, contact HMICS within one month of hearing from the police.
HMICS, St. Andrews House, 2 Regent Rd, Edinburgh, EH1 3DG
Phone: 0131 244 5614