COMPLAINTS MUST BE REFERRED TO THE POLICE OMBUDSMAN'S OFFICE

Details of any complaint about police made at a police station or to a police officer must be forwarded to the Police Ombudsman's Office at the earliest practicable opportunity.

When a member of the public attends a police station to make a complaint, an OMB2 or OMB2(b) form must be filled in. The form is used to record the complainant's details and the circumstances giving rise to the complaint.

The completed form must then be faxed to the Police Ombudsman's Office at the earliest opportunity (your local custody suite, Inquiries Office or Duty Inspector should have copies of the form).

The original completed OMB2 or OMB2(b) form must then be sent by internal post, along with copies of any related documents (e.g. custody records, notebook entries, medical notes etc) to the Police Ombudsman's Office at:

New Cathedral Buildings
St Anne's Square
11 Church Street
BELFAST
BT1 1PG

The competed form OMB2 or OMB2(b) must not be photocopied.

If you are out of the station and on duty when a member of the public seeks to make a complaint, you should record as many details relating to the identity of the complainant and about his or her complaint as circumstances allow.

In situations where it is not possible to record any details, such as during public disorder, as a minimum Officers should seek to inform the complainant that they should contact the Police Ombudsman's Office.

Click here to go back to the introduction.