Get Info » Stop & Search: Your Rights » How can I complain?

The police should treat you fairly and with respect. If you are unhappy with how you were treated, you can complain. If you feel you were treated differently because of your race, age, sexuality, gender, disability, religion or faith, you can complain of unlawful discrimination.

It will help if you keep the form that the police gave you.

You can get advice from, or complain to:

a police station;
your local police authority;
a Citizen's Advice Bureau;
your local Race Equality Council
the Independent Police Complaints Commission;
the Commission for Racial Equality; or a solicitor.

If you have difficulty understanding English, or if you are deaf, then the police must take reasonable steps to ensure that you understand your rights.

This is a guide to the 'stop and search' procedures. It does not cover all of the law.

Visit the Association of Police Authorities website at www.apa.police.uk