Welcome to the IPCC's statutory guidance website.
This website hosts the content of the IPCC's revised statutory guidance for the police service and police authorities, which came into effect on 1 April 2010.
This site provides statutory guidance to the police service and police authorities on the handling of complaints. The site will be updated to reflect any future changes that are made to the statutory guidance.
Key to the guidance
The following symbols have been used throughout the guidance to help distinguish between different sorts of information.
 | Principles: Each chapter of the guidance includes a set of over-arching principles which should inform how the practical requirements of the chapter are carried out. |
 | Practical guidance: The practical guidance sections supply more detailed information on how the police complaints system should be delivered. |
 | Examples: Examples are supplied throughout the text to help explain the practical guidance. |
 | References: References are included where necessary to help the reader find more information about particular aspects of the guidance. References may be to further definitions, relevant legislation or other documents. |
Click on the image to the left to open the PDF version of the statutory website or click on the link below.
PDF version of the statutory guidance website - English version (1,630kb)
The statutory guidance to the police service and police authorities on the handling of complaints - 1 April 2010
PDF of the statutory guidance website - Welsh version (1,631kb)
Welsh language version of the statutory guidance to the police service and police authorities on the handling of complaints - 1 April 2010