Police Complaints Board

Who are the Police Complaints Board?

The Police Complaints Board (PCB) is established under the Gibraltar Police Authority (GPA) in accordance with the provisions of the Police Act 2006. The procedures under which the PCB operates are set out in the Police Complaints Board Regulations 2008. The PCB is completely independent of the Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) and deals with the investigation of complaints and allegations of misconduct on the part of police officers in the RGP.

The PCB is composed of the following members:

Frank Carreras – Chairman

6 other members

Who can make a complaint?

You can make a complaint if you:

Have been the victim of conduct you felt was inappropriate by a police officer?

Were present when the alleged inappropriate conduct took place, or close enough to see or hear the inappropriate conduct, or have been adversely affected* by the incident?

Are distressed as a result of a friend or a relative being treated badly by the RGP?

Are acting on behalf of any of the above, for example a person who has been given written permission by an individual or an organization to make a complaint on his behalf?

*Being adversely affected may include distress, inconvenience, loss or damage, or being put in danger or at risk. This might apply, for example, to other people present at the incident or to the parent of a child, young person or friend of the person directly affected. It does not include someone distressed by watching an incident on television or reading about it in the media.

What can I complain about?

The RGP have a Code of Conduct which they must follow at all times. The Code requires the Police Officer to act with honesty and integrity, they must treat the members of the public with respect and they must not abuse the extraordinary powers and authority which they are granted. The Codes of Conduct are available here.

If you think you have been treated badly or improperly by a police officer you have the right to make a complaint.

Please note that the PCB is not responsible for handling complaints about RGP policies, operational issues or the allocation of resources. Any complaints of this nature should be addressed in the first instance to the Commissioner of Police.

How to make a complaint?

Fill in a PCB Complaint Form and post it or hand it in to our offices at 25B Casemates, Casemates Square, Gibraltar.

Call in at our offices and a member of our staff will assist you to complete a PCB Complaint Form.

A complaint can also be made online by clicking the following button:

FILE A COMPLAINT

A complaint may be made on your behalf by anyone who is acting on your behalf and who has been given written permission by you to lodge the complaint.

A juvenile (under the age of 17 years) will be required to submit a complaint through an adult.

If you think you have been treated badly or improperly by a police officer you have the right to make a complaint.

What happens when a complaint is submitted?

Initial examination

On receipt of the complaint the PCB will carry out an initial examination to determine whether:-

(a) it appears that a criminal offence may have been committed.
(b) there is a case to answer.

Criminal Offence?

If it is the view of the PCB that a criminal offence may have been committed the PCB will refer the matter to the Attorney General, as it is not within the remit of the PCB to handle criminal cases.

Case to answer?

If it is the view of the PCB that there is a case to answer in terms of the RGP Discipline Code, then the PCB will initiate a formal investigation.

No case to answer?

If it is the view of the PCB that there is no case to answer, the PCB shall so inform the complainant.

Appeal against a finding of no case to answer

You may appeal to the GPA against a decision by the PCB that there is no case to answer. You must submit your appeal in writing to the GPA within 14 days of receipt of the decision of the PCB by writing to the Chairman of the GPA at 25B Casemates, Casemates Square, Gibraltar and you must set out the reasons for the appeal.

How will you be kept informed?

You have the right to be told how your complaint will be dealt with and, what action is being taken as a result of your complaint. The PCB will keep you informed at regular intervals.

What happens once your complaint has been investigated?

When the PCB have investigated your complaint, you will be advised in writing of their decision.
The possible outcomes are:

The RGP may decide to improve or change their procedures.

The RGP may take disciplinary action against the officer being complained about.In most serious cases, the RGP or PCB may take your complaint further by passing it to the Attorney General who will decide if criminal charges should be brought against an individual as a result of the complaint. Keep in view that in some cases, there may not be enough information or evidence to take any action over your complaint in a Court of Law.

It might be decided that the RGP acted reasonably and your complaint will not be sustained.

What to do if you are not happy with the decision or recommendation of the Board

Under the Police Complaints Regulations 2008 there is provision for the GPA to review your case if the reasons for a review meet the criteria laid down in the Regulations. You may ask the Authority to review a decision or recommendation of the PCB if:

you produce new written evidence which was not, with reasonable diligence, available to you at the time the Board considered your complaint, and in the opinion of the Authority the new evidence might have had a significant bearing on the decision or recommendation of the Board had the Board considered that evidence.

you consider that the decision or recommendation of the Board was manifestly wrong or perverse and that no reasonable Board properly considering the complaint could have come to that decision or recommendation.

A request for a review must be made in writing setting out the reasons why the Authority should review the case, and must be lodged with the Authority within 28 days of receipt of the decision or recommendation.

FAQS

Can I arrange an interview with the Secretary of the PCB to make my complaint?

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Gibraltar Police Authority

Who are the Police Complaints Board?

The PCB is composed of the following members:

Who can make a complaint?

Have been the victim of conduct you felt was inappropriate by a police officer?

Were present when the alleged inappropriate conduct took place, or close enough to see or hear the inappropriate conduct, or have been adversely affected* by the incident?

Are distressed as a result of a friend or a relative being treated badly by the RGP?

Are acting on behalf of any of the above, for example a person who has been given written permission by an individual or an organization to make a complaint on his behalf?

What can I complain about?

How to make a complaint?

Fill in a PCB Complaint Form and post it or hand it in to our offices at 25B Casemates, Casemates Square, Gibraltar.

Call in at our offices and a member of our staff will assist you to complete a PCB Complaint Form.

A complaint can also be made online by clicking the following button:

A complaint may be made on your behalf by anyone who is acting on your behalf and who has been given written permission by you to lodge the complaint.

A juvenile (under the age of 17 years) will be required to submit a complaint through an adult.

If you think you have been treated badly or improperly by a police officer you have the right to make a complaint.

What happens when a complaint is submitted?

Initial examination

Criminal Offence?

Case to answer?

No case to answer?

Appeal against a finding of no case to answer

How will you be kept informed?

What happens once your complaint has been investigated?

What to do if you are not happy with the decision or recommendation of the Board

FAQS

Can I arrange an interview with the Secretary of the PCB to make my complaint?

I have a disability. What assistance can the PCB provide for me to make a complaint?

Is there a time limit on making a complaint?

How long will my complaint take to deal with?

Can the PCB help me make a financial claim against the RGP?

Can I make a complaint to the PCB about A Parking Ticket?

The RGP have not properly investigated a crime I reported, what can the PCB do?

What can I do if I have reported a crime to the RGP but they refuse to investigate it?