What we can't review

What we can and can’t do is set out in the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006.  We’ll decide if your complaint fits in with our powers.

Our role is to review how a police force, police authority or policing agency has handled a complaint - we will not investigate the substance of a complaint. 

You must have been to the police force, police authority or policing agency first, and given them the opportunity to deal with your complaint.  We will not look at complaints that are already being dealt with by courts or other complaints procedures.

We cannot review complaints where you suggest that the police force, police authority or policing agency has acted illegally – we will refer criminal allegations to the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service to consider.

We cannot review complaints about employment and staff issues relating to individuals who work with, or who have worked with, the police.