Joint UK memorandum formalises policing complaint process
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has signed a new memorandum of understanding with the College of Policing and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to formalise joint work on police super-complaints.
According to HMICFRS, the agreement outlines how the three organisations will collaborate when handling systemic concerns raised by designated bodies under the Police Super-complaints (Designation and Procedure) Regulations 2018.
The document defines each organisation’s role in assessing eligibility, conducting investigations, publishing findings, and issuing recommendations related to super-complaints.
The agreement is designed to support improvements in policing practices across England and Wales, and includes commitments to transparency, proportionality and joint decision-making.
Each authority contributes distinct functions and expertise
HMICFRS stated that the agreement reflects the three organisations’ different statutory responsibilities.
The Inspectorate conducts independent inspections of police and fire services in England and Wales, while the College of Policing sets professional standards and training for police forces.
The IOPC oversees the police complaints system, monitors police handling of complaints, and carries out independent investigations into serious incidents.
HMICFRS said it would act as the lead authority for certain administrative duties, including receiving super-complaints, issuing eligibility decisions if consensus cannot be reached, and managing secure platforms for information sharing.
All three bodies will share information with each other under the regulations where required to carry out joint investigations.
Investigations to focus on systemic policing issues
The memorandum describes super-complaints as a mechanism for identifying policing practices that may be causing harm to the public.
According to the agreement, eligible complaints must show evidence of patterns or widespread issues rather than isolated incidents.
Investigations will be evidence-based and tailored to the nature and severity of the harm reported, HMICFRS said.
Where multiple super-complaints are submitted at once, priority will be given based on the vulnerability of affected individuals, the scale of the issue, and the potential impact on public confidence in policing.
Recommendations from investigations will be published alongside the evidence used to support them.
Collaborative model built into investigation and reporting
The decision-making authorities confirmed they would jointly agree key aspects of every investigation, including which organisation takes the lead and how the work will be divided.
Separate reports may be issued by individual organisations, but all final joint investigation reports must be approved by all three authorities before publication.
If disagreements arise that cannot be resolved by consensus, HMICFRS is authorised under the regulations to make the final decision on eligibility.
The lead organisation on each investigation will manage timelines, stakeholder engagement and media communications, but will not act unilaterally.
Public statements about the system or specific investigations will normally be issued jointly.
Agreement aims to strengthen long-term system performance
HMICFRS said the memorandum supports efforts to continuously improve the police super-complaints process.
The three organisations will review each investigation upon completion and share learning to improve future investigations.
Any updates to processes or practices must be agreed by all three authorities.
The agreement includes commitments to maintain independence while working collaboratively, recognising the benefit of presenting a shared view where possible.
The memorandum was signed in July 2025 by Rachel Watson, Director General of the IOPC, Sir Andy Cooke, HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary, and Sir Andy Marsh, CEO of the College of Policing.
HMICFRS, IOPC and College of Policing agree super-complaints collaboration: Summary
HMICFRS has signed a new memorandum of understanding with the College of Policing and the IOPC.
The agreement governs how the three authorities will respond to police super-complaints.
The regulations are set out in the Police Super-complaints (Designation and Procedure) Regulations 2018.
Each organisation contributes distinct roles and expertise to the complaint investigation process.
HMICFRS will act as the lead for system administration and certain eligibility decisions.
Super-complaints must address systemic issues in policing that may cause public harm.
Investigations will be collaborative, evidence-based, and vary depending on severity and scope.
Joint investigation reports must be approved by all three organisations.
Public statements will usually be issued collectively.
The agreement also outlines commitments to transparency, proportionate action and continuous improvement.