About Us
The Police Ombudsman's Office provides independent, impartial investigation of complaints about the police in Northern Ireland.
We look at evidence to decide whether police officers have acted properly or not. Examples of the types of things we investigate include complaints that:
-
officers failed to conduct proper enquiries
-
officers used excessive force
-
officers were rude or aggressive
-
or acted inappropriately in other ways.
We also investigate complaints about some, but not all, civilian employees of the police. This includes those performing custody and escort duties.
Our decisions are made entirely independently of the police, government and complainants.
You do not have to pay to complain to us.
We deal with complaints about:
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The Police Service of Northern Ireland
-
Belfast Harbour Police
-
Larne Harbour Police
-
Belfast International Airport Police
-
Ministry of Defence police in Northern Ireland
The Office was established in November 2000, is based in Belfast city centre, and has a staff of about 150 people, about 120 of whom work within our investigations teams.
- See more at: http://poni.uat.biznetdemo.com/About-Us#sthash.e0ZKVTuu.dpuf
The Police Ombudsman's Office provides independent, impartial investigation of complaints about the police in Northern Ireland.
We look at evidence to decide whether police officers have acted properly or not. Examples of the types of things we investigate include complaints that:
-
officers failed to conduct proper enquiries
-
officers used excessive force
-
officers were rude or aggressive
-
or acted inappropriately in other ways.
We also investigate complaints about some, but not all, civilian employees of the police. This includes those performing custody and escort duties.
Our decisions are made entirely independently of the police, government and complainants.
You do not have to pay to complain to us.
We deal with complaints about:
-
The Police Service of Northern Ireland
-
Belfast Harbour Police
-
Larne Harbour Police
-
Belfast International Airport Police
-
Ministry of Defence police in Northern Ireland
The Office was established in November 2000, is based in Belfast city centre, and has a staff of about 150 people, about 120 of whom work within our investigations teams.
- See more at: http://poni.uat.biznetdemo.com/About-Us#sthash.e0ZKVTuu.dpuf
The Police Ombudsman's Office provides independent, impartial investigation of complaints about the police in Northern Ireland.
We look at evidence to decide whether police officers have acted properly or not. Examples of the types of things we investigate include complaints that:
-
officers failed to conduct proper enquiries
-
officers used excessive force
-
officers were rude or aggressive
-
or acted inappropriately in other ways.
We also investigate complaints about some, but not all, civilian employees of the police. This includes those performing custody and escort duties.
Our decisions are made entirely independently of the police, government and complainants.
You do not have to pay to complain to us.
We deal with complaints about:
-
The Police Service of Northern Ireland
-
Belfast Harbour Police
-
Larne Harbour Police
-
Belfast International Airport Police
-
Ministry of Defence police in Northern Ireland
The Office was established in November 2000, is based in Belfast city centre, and has a staff of about 150 people, about 120 of whom work within our investigations teams.
- See more at: http://poni.uat.biznetdemo.com/About-Us#sthash.e0ZKVTuu.dpuf
The Police Ombudsman's Office provides independent, impartial investigation of complaints about the police in Northern Ireland.
We look at evidence to decide whether police officers have acted properly or not. Examples of the types of things we investigate include complaints that:
-
officers failed to conduct proper enquiries
-
officers used excessive force
-
officers were rude or aggressive
-
or acted inappropriately in other ways.
We also investigate complaints about some, but not all, civilian employees of the police. This includes those performing custody and escort duties.
Our decisions are made entirely independently of the police, government and complainants.
You do not have to pay to complain to us.
We deal with complaints about:
-
The Police Service of Northern Ireland
-
Belfast Harbour Police
-
Larne Harbour Police
-
Belfast International Airport Police
-
Ministry of Defence police in Northern Ireland
The Office was established in November 2000, is based in Belfast city centre, and has a staff of about 150 people, about 120 of whom work within our investigations teams.
- See more at: http://poni.uat.biznetdemo.com/About-Us#sthash.e0ZKVTuu.dpuf
The Police Ombudsman's Office provides independent, impartial investigation of complaints about the police in Northern Ireland.
We look at evidence to decide whether police officers have acted properly or not. Examples of the types of things we investigate include complaints that:
-
officers failed to conduct proper enquiries
-
officers used excessive force
-
officers were rude or aggressive
-
or acted inappropriately in other ways.
We also investigate complaints about some, but not all, civilian employees of the police. This includes those performing custody and escort duties.
Our decisions are made entirely independently of the police, government and complainants.
You do not have to pay to complain to us.
We deal with complaints about:
-
The Police Service of Northern Ireland
-
Belfast Harbour Police
-
Larne Harbour Police
-
Belfast International Airport Police
-
Ministry of Defence police in Northern Ireland
The Office was established in November 2000, is based in Belfast city centre, and has a staff of about 150 people, about 120 of whom work within our investigations teams.
- See more at: http://poni.uat.biznetdemo.com/About-Us#sthash.e0ZKVTuu.dpuf
The Police Ombudsman's Office is where to go if you want to make a complaint about a police officer in Northern Ireland.
We are completely separate from the police, and don't take sides between police officers and the people who make complaints about them.
Check out the video below, which gives a quick introduction to what we do. Read on below it for more detailed info.
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What happens when you make a complaint about a police officer?
Click here if you have a complaint about a police officer and want to make it online.
When you make a complaint about a police officer we will take a statement from you about what happened. We will also ask the police officer for his or her version of events.
In addition, we will gather other evidence about the incident you have complained about. This might include CCTV footage, medical records, police radio transmissions, police documents, phone records and forensic evidence. This evidence helps us to decide whether police officers have acted properly or not.
Examples of the types of things we investigate include complaints that:
-
officers failed to conduct proper enquiries
-
officers used excessive force
-
officers were rude or aggressive
-
or acted inappropriately in other ways.
If the evidence suggests that an officer has committed a criminal act, we can recommend that they are taken to court and prosecuted.
If it suggests that they have not done their job properly, we can recommend that they are disciplined.
Or we might find that there is no, or not enough, evidence that they have acted improperly. If that's the case, the complaint will not be upheld and no action will be taken against the officer.
Whatever the outcome, we will contact you to let you know our decision.
As well as complaints about police officers, we also investigate complaints about some civilian employees of the police. This includes those performing custody and escort duties.
Usually, you have a year from an incident you are concerned about in which to lodge a complaint with the Police Ombudsman's Office.
Our decisions are made entirely independently of the police, government and complainants.
You do not have to pay to complain to us.
As well as complaints about officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland, we also deal with complaints about:
-
National Crime Agency officers in Northern Ireland
-
The Belfast Harbour Police
-
The Belfast International Airport Police
-
Ministry of Defence police in Northern Ireland
-
Immigration officers and some customs officials in Northern Ireland (serious cases only).
The Police Ombudsman's Office is based in Belfast city centre, and has a staff of about 150 people, about 120 of whom work within our investigations teams.