Report on the Suzy Lamplugh Trust’s super-complaint: The police response to stalking

Summary

In November 2022, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary and senior representatives from the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC), and the College of Policing received a super-complaint submitted by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust (SLT), on behalf of the National Stalking Consortium.

The super-complaint is about the police response to stalking.

HMICFRS, the College of Policing, and the IOPC have published a report in response to this super-complaint.

Following a joint investigation, we have made recommendations to the Home Office, National Police Chiefs’ Council, chief constables, police and crime commissioners (or equivalents), the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, the Ministry of Justice, and the Crown Prosecution Service.

Read the report on GOV.UK

Super-complaint on the police response to stalking

Get the press release

Changes needed to ensure stalking victims get the right response from police

What is a super-complaint?

A super-complaint is a complaint that ‘a feature, or combination of features, of policing in England and Wales by one or more than one police force is, or appears to be, harming the interests of the public’ (section 29A, Police Reform Act 2002).

The system aims to examine problems of local, regional or national significance that may not be addressed by existing complaints systems. The process for making and considering a super-complaint is outlined in the Police Super-complaints Regulations 2018.

Super-complaints provide a voice for designated bodies to raise concerns on behalf of the public. They can include patterns or trends in policing that are, or appear to be, harming the interests of the public.

The College of Policing and the IOPC are responsible for assessing, investigating and reporting on police super-complaints. We have collaborated on the investigation and on drawing conclusions.