New website now live
The Service Police Complaints Commissioner (SPCC) has launched a new website – giving everyone in the Defence community a central place to find information about Service Police complaints and how to get help if things go wrong.
Acting SPCC, Jonathan Rees KC said:
“Service Police are committed to serving our Armed Forces community with integrity, fairness and accountability – and the SPCC provides independent oversight of complaints and conduct matters that relates to their work.
"Our new website makes it easier for people to understand who we are, how to access our services, and how we work independently. We are here to support those who are unhappy with how they were treated, to investigate where conduct and behaviour may have fallen short of the high standards that should be upheld, and to recognise where Service Police are working effectively – so that good practice and learning can be shared to support improvements.
"If you have had a poor experience with the Service Police, the website provides a clear route for raising your concerns and we are committed to providing fair, independent and timely decisions."
Independent watchdog for Service policing
The SPCC is an independent body, operating entirely separately from the Service Police, Defence and Government. It performs a similar function to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) – the organisation responsible for overseeing complaints about civilian police in England and Wales – but with responsibility for the Service Police.
It is important to know and understand that the SPCC has a specific role. Unlike the Armed Forces Commissioner, the SPCC only deals with complaints about Service policing.
A resource for all
The website is for everyone in the Defence community – Regular and Reserve personnel, Service family members, civil servants, and anyone subject to Service law or Service discipline.
It is also useful for specialists who work in the Service police complaints space – such as police officers, Professional Standards Department staff and legal colleagues.
Commanding officers, policy leads and welfare leads will find it helpful too, explaining the role they can play in pointing people towards the right support.
What you will find on the website
