Next level with a police complaint

Next level with a police complaint

Author
Discussion

Petrus1983

Original Poster:

8,759 posts

163 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
Not going into details but I've asked a DCI directly a very pertinent question, she's failing to respond.

Before the hecklers arrive - I have no issue with the police but in this circumstance of what I've seen some further answers would be helpful.

Masiv

280 posts

84 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
Find out who their superior is and contact them.

Yellow Lizud

2,399 posts

165 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
If you're not going to go into any detail and not going to say what the question was, then how the hell do you expect to get any sensible or useful answers?

Greendubber

13,222 posts

204 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
Some context required to be able to suggest anything to be honest.

Asked a question in passing, formally in relation to an ongoing issue/complaint etc?

What's the nature of the question, would it be subject to any disclosure, data protection, is it sensitive material etc etc?

Why do they have to give you an answer?


edthefed

708 posts

68 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
A DCI may well be acting as Senior Investigating Officer for a number of large investigations, with all that entails, and leading /managing a number of teams of investigators. If they are SIO they will also be on call 24/7

Liaising with CPS / Barristers / dealing with press enquiries.

Is the question you have asked directly connected to one of the DCIs investigations where they are SIO where the DCI will have a good grasp of things or is it a "lower level" crime being investigated by a PC / DC where the DCI may need to ask some questions of those directly involved before coming back to you.

Or is a "policy matter" - DCIs / CIs are often also tasked with reviewing policies etc.

If its a question about a decision to charge someone or not with a offence that decision is likely to have been taken by CPS so again the DCI might not be fully aware

Was the question in writing / verbal

Without some more background very difficult to advise

Petrus1983

Original Poster:

8,759 posts

163 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
edthefed said:
A DCI may well be acting as Senior Investigating Officer for a number of large investigations, with all that entails, and leading /managing a number of teams of investigators. If they are SIO they will also be on call 24/7

Liaising with CPS / Barristers / dealing with press enquiries.

Is the question you have asked directly connected to one of the DCIs investigations where they are SIO where the DCI will have a good grasp of things or is it a "lower level" crime being investigated by a PC / DC where the DCI may need to ask some questions of those directly involved before coming back to you.

Or is a "policy matter" - DCIs / CIs are often also tasked with reviewing policies etc.

If its a question about a decision to charge someone or not with a offence that decision is likely to have been taken by CPS so again the DCI might not be fully aware

Was the question in writing / verbal

Without some more background very difficult to advise
Thanks - and thanks to the other obove comments.

Basically someone who's saying she's a dci is not responding to a direct complaint which (and it's not me but feel for the scenario) they should respond to. It's a simple "did you overstep your duty" - no more than that. What's the next step for this - I don't want the FBI etc - just a simple "the next step is" - thanks smile

Greendubber

13,222 posts

204 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
Clear as mud....



Go to a police station and make a complaint, let us know how it goes.

jules_s

4,291 posts

234 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
Petrus1983 said:
"did you overstep your duty" - no more than that.
That isn't a 'simple' question and I doubt you'll get a direct answer.

FMOB

892 posts

13 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
edthefed said:
A DCI may well be acting as Senior Investigating Officer for a number of large investigations, with all that entails, and leading /managing a number of teams of investigators. If they are SIO they will also be on call 24/7

Liaising with CPS / Barristers / dealing with press enquiries.

Is the question you have asked directly connected to one of the DCIs investigations where they are SIO where the DCI will have a good grasp of things or is it a "lower level" crime being investigated by a PC / DC where the DCI may need to ask some questions of those directly involved before coming back to you.

Or is a "policy matter" - DCIs / CIs are often also tasked with reviewing policies etc.

If its a question about a decision to charge someone or not with a offence that decision is likely to have been taken by CPS so again the DCI might not be fully aware

Was the question in writing / verbal

Without some more background very difficult to advise
Just as important did you provide a timescale for when you expect to receive a response? If not the request is probably low priority.

r3g

3,191 posts

25 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
Petrus1983 said:
Not going into details but I've asked a DCI directly a very pertinent question, she's failing to respond.

Before the hecklers arrive - I have no issue with the police but in this circumstance of what I've seen some further answers would be helpful.
She will investigate herself and find she did nothing wrong. There is your answer. You're welcome! smile

iDrive

416 posts

114 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
Hi

Unless you have previous correspondence with the Officer, the DCI, it may be that they have no connection with the issue you are concerned about, and from the way you have provided limited information, it will not have been recorded as a complaint.

It may well be that the person is on Leave and has not set their Out of Office or any number of other reasons, including that a random person has sent them an email they know nothing about and they have forwarded it to the correct person. Most DCIs are not in public-facing roles and its equally possible that your email will have been filtered by security software.

If you have a complaint, I'd recommend going through the force website, which will have all of the information - or if you have a question, there will also be a link to contact the force, who in turn will identify the correct person to respond to your enquiry.

edthefed

708 posts

68 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
Petrus

Very difficult to answer the question "did you overstep your duty" without knowing the circumstances.

Police Officers are individually accountable for their actions and whether someone "overstepped your duty" might be a very subjective issue.

The law is full of ambiguous phraseology and even for example the Powers of arrest are worded a Police Constable may arrest......not a Police Constable will arrest etc

Have you Googled the name you have / checked things liked Linkedin as you are suggesting it is someone "claiming" to be a DCI. A genuine DCI is likely to have had some media presence in the past

If you have concerns then "the next level" is to write to the force Professional Standards Department and they will assess your complaint against the "Police Code of Conduct" and whether it merits further enquiry / investigation

Earthdweller

13,595 posts

127 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
Simply

If you wish to make a complaint about an officer ( regardless of rank ) overstepping their authority ( in your opinion ) Then ring 101 and they will create an incident log which will be passed to the duty inspector covering the area

The matter is then formally recorded and an audit trail created

The duty inspector will then contact you and you can take it from there with them

Note that it doesn’t mean a formal complaint will be taken but the Inspector might be able to answer the question you ask and maybe resolve your concerns without further delay or action having to be taken

Edited by Earthdweller on Monday 15th April 21:06

Jamescrs

4,486 posts

66 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
You need to contact the relevant forces professional Standards department is the simple answer, if you wish to raise a complaint.

hidetheelephants

24,463 posts

194 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
Walting as a DCI seems like a niche hobby, if I was going to walt as police I'd want to be traffic or armed response. It's not Helen Mirren getting carried away with method acting? hehe

Petrus1983

Original Poster:

8,759 posts

163 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
edthefed said:
A DCI may well be acting as Senior Investigating Officer for a number of large investigations, with all that entails, and leading /managing a number of teams of investigators. If they are SIO they will also be on call 24/7

Liaising with CPS / Barristers / dealing with press enquiries.

Is the question you have asked directly connected to one of the DCIs investigations where they are SIO where the DCI will have a good grasp of things or is it a "lower level" crime being investigated by a PC / DC where the DCI may need to ask some questions of those directly involved before coming back to you.

Or is a "policy matter" - DCIs / CIs are often also tasked with reviewing policies etc.

If its a question about a decision to charge someone or not with a offence that decision is likely to have been taken by CPS so again the DCI might not be fully aware

Was the question in writing / verbal

Without some more background very difficult to advise
Thanks - and thanks to the other obove comments.

Basically someone who's saying she's a dci is not responding to a direct complaint which (and it's not me but feel for the scenario) they should respond to. It's a simple "did you overstep your duty" - no more than that. What's the next step for this - I don't want the FBI etc - just a simple "the next step is" - thanks smile

Sebring440

2,022 posts

97 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
Petrus1983 said:
(and it's not me but feel for the scenario)
Petrus1983 said:
What's the next step for this - I don't want the FBI etc - just a simple "the next step is"
Well, as you've said, "it's not for you", so I would keep out of it, mind your own business, and not start winding up the police.

Greendubber

13,222 posts

204 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
Petrus1983 said:
Thanks - and thanks to the other obove comments.

Basically someone who's saying she's a dci is not responding to a direct complaint which (and it's not me but feel for the scenario) they should respond to. It's a simple "did you overstep your duty" - no more than that. What's the next step for this - I don't want the FBI etc - just a simple "the next step is" - thanks smile
Presumably she isn't responding to you as although you 'feel for the scenario' the matter doesn't involve you.

The next step should probably accept your emails been sent to the trash bin as she has no obligation to reply to you.


richhead

891 posts

12 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
Greendubber said:
Presumably she isn't responding to you as although you 'feel for the scenario' the matter doesn't involve you.

The next step should probably accept your emails been sent to the trash bin as she has no obligation to reply to you.
totally this, dont interfere in things that have nothing to do with you

kestral

1,740 posts

208 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
Jamescrs said:
You need to contact the relevant forces professional Standards department is the simple answer, if you wish to raise a complaint.
The correct answer.