His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, the College of Policing and the Independent Office for Police Conduct have found a super‑complaint on delays in sexual offence investigations eligible for investigation. The submission reached the Chief Inspector on 15 December 2025 from the Centre for Women’s Justice and was published on 29 January 2026. The three bodies will now plan and conduct the investigation. (gov.uk)
According to the GOV.UK notice, the Centre for Women’s Justice worked with Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre, Rape Crisis England & Wales and Bindmans LLP on the submission. The complaint concerns what the submitters describe as excessively lengthy police investigations into sexual offences. (gov.uk)
Police super‑complaints are enabled by the Police Super‑complaints (Designation and Procedure) Regulations 2018 and section 29A of the Police Reform Act 2002. They allow a designated organisation to assert that a feature of policing in England and Wales is, or appears to be, significantly harming the public interest. HMICFRS, the College and the IOPC jointly consider such complaints and determine the response. (gov.uk)
Only designated bodies may make a super‑complaint. The Home Office list includes the Centre for Women’s Justice, designated in June 2018, with the scheme moving to operational status on 1 November 2018. HMICFRS maintains a collection page where eligible super‑complaints are recorded and updates are posted. (gov.uk)
The process is structured and time‑bound. On receipt, HMICFRS acknowledges a super‑complaint within five working days. During consideration and any investigation, updates are issued every 56 working days and a named HMICFRS contact keeps the complainant informed of progress. (gov.uk)
Possible responses include an HMICFRS inspection, an IOPC investigation, revisions to standards or guidance by the College of Policing, recommendations to one or more forces, or advice to another public body or department. A public report will explain the assessment, decisions and any recommendations. (gov.uk)
Forces and Police and Crime Commissioners should expect potential requests for information on investigative timeliness, case progression and supervision. Any resulting actions will be taken within the statutory powers of HMICFRS, the College and the IOPC; no new legal duties arise unless ministers or Parliament act separately. (gov.uk)
Further updates on this case will be issued on the GOV.UK super‑complaints collection, which records eligibility decisions and later publishes responses. There is no fixed completion date, but publication is notified in advance to the complainant and on GOV.UK. (gov.uk)