Complaints

Public complaints

We accept a range of complaint types that fall within the Inspector General’s authority.

Complaints we handle

The types of complaints the Inspector General has authority to handle include:

  • Complaints that a police service may not be providing adequate and effective policing, as defined in regulation.

     

  • Complaints that a member of a police service board has violated their code of conduct, as defined in regulation.

     

  • Complaints that a police service, a police service board, or an organization that employs special constables has failed to comply with any other part of the Community Safety and Policing Act or its regulations.

     

  • We also accept complaints about police service board policies and complaints about procedures established by Chiefs of Police. 

In addition to public complaints, we accept disclosures of misconduct from police officers and special constables.

Learn more about which complaints we handle
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What to expect

We handle all personal information in accordance with the Community Safety and Policing Act, as well as provincial privacy legislation.

Learn more about what to expect
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Make a complaint

We handle complaints related to compliance with Ontario's Community Safety and Policing Act and its regulations by police services, police service boards, and organizations that employ special constables.

This includes complaints about the provision of adequate and effective policing.

We also handle complaints regarding the conduct of police service board members.
Make a complaint

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about making a complaint

  • It depends on your complaint. We have legal authority to investigate certain types of complaints about municipal police services, police chiefs, police service boards and their members; OPP boards and their members; and organizations that employ special constables. We also have the authority to investigate complaints related to any First Nation police service or board that opts into the Community Safety and Policing Act. If your complaint is about the conduct of a police officer, please contact the Law Enforcement Complaint Agency or the Special Investigations Unit.

  • If you make a complaint through our online complaint form, you will be able to save a draft complaint and to return later to submit a complaint or to check the status of your complaint online. You can also complete a PDF form and submit it to us by email or mail. If you are a member of a police service or a special constable, you can make a disclosure of misconduct under section 185 of the Community Safety and Policing Act. Contact us at iopdisclosures@ontario.ca, or by phone at 416-314-4130 / 1-888-333-5078 for more information.

  • As a first step, you will receive confirmation that we have received your complaint. We will carefully review and assess your complaint before to determine what actions we may take. This may include conducting an investigation or inspection, or less formal resolution options.

  • You must provide your name and other information in order to make a complaint. If you are a member of a police service or a Special Constable, you make a disclosure confidentially under section 185 of the Community Safety and Policing Act. Contact us at iopdisclosures@ontario.ca, or by phone at 416-314-4130 / 1-888-333-5078 for more information.

  • We use an Ontario government tool called My Ontario Account so you can create an account that allows you to save draft complaint forms and check the status of your complaint. Please note that information you enter in the complaint form can only seen by staff at the Inspectorate of Policing.

  • To return to your dashboard and finish your complaint, click on the “Make a Complaint” button in the top right-hand corner of our website and log back in to your account.