Is it true that complaints against the Police can only be made by writing to the Police Complaints Commissioner?

The system for handling complaints against the police in the UK is designed to be accessible and multi-faceted. It's not limited to just one avenue. While the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) does oversee the police complaints system, you can actually make a complaint in several ways. You can complain directly to the police force involved, to the IOPC themselves, or even through a local authority like your council. The idea is to make it easier for people to raise concerns and ensure accountability. Limiting complaints to just one commissioner would create a bottleneck and potentially discourage people from reporting issues. This accessibility is a key principle of the British justice system, ensuring that individuals have multiple avenues to seek redress if they feel they've been wronged by the police.