Being stopped and searched can be an unpleasant experience, no matter the approach of the police officers involved. But if it’s felt that there has been unnecessary force or an inappropriate attitude, then we'd like to hear about it and, where necessary, act upon it. Likewise, we welcome any suggestions or positive comments you’d like to share.

Tell us about your experience of being stopped by the police

If you feel you’ve had an unpleasant or unsatisfactory experience, you may wish to make a formal complaint. You can do so if you think a police officer has behaved incorrectly or unfairly. For example, if you think an officer has:

  • been rude to you
  • used excessive force
  • abused your rights
  • arrested you unlawfully

All complaints are investigated and this can take time. 

To make a formal complaint and for more information about how complaints are investigated, read our complaints pages. If you've had a positive experience, you can offer us feedback.

You can also make a complaint in these ways:

By phone: 101

By writing to:
The Professional Standards Department
Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police
Stratford upon Avon Police Station
Rother Street
Stratford upon Avon
Warwickshire
CV37 6RD


Alternatively, you can ask your MP to make a complaint for you, but they must be able to show us your written consent. Search for your MP. 

The Home Office's Best use of stop and search scheme requires police forces to have a community complaints trigger in place, particularly where there are a large number of complaints about stop and search. If the trigger is reached, police forces have to explain their use of their stop and search powers to community groups.

Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police get low numbers of stop and search complaints, so we've decided to treat every complaint as a community trigger. So all complaints we get are reviewed by our Professional Standards Department and discussed by a local police officer with Independent Advisory Groups and community forums to allow public scrutiny and feedback.

How to get involved

Ride Along scheme

The Ride Along scheme offers members of the public the opportunity to accompany our officers on patrol and experience first hand how stop and search may be used. The scheme enables two-way learning and helps create greater understanding and closeness between the police and the public.

For more information and details of how to apply, please use our quick and simple online Ride Along scheme application form.

If your application is successful, local police will agree a time and location for you to accompany officers. After the Ride Along, you will be asked to complete a feedback questionnaire required by the Home Office as part of their Best use of stop and search scheme.