New child-friendly complaints handling guidelines for policing bodies

Date: 10th August 2026
Category: General measures of implementation

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The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) launched new statutory guidance to mark the two-year anniversary of the UNCRC Act entering into force.

Drawing on the UNCRC, the guidance requires policing bodies to ensure that complaints processes are suitably accessible, that the child’s views and best interests are taken into consideration.

Police Investigations and Review Commissioner, Laura Paton, said:

“It is imperative that policing bodies uphold children’s rights when dealing with complaints made by children or by adults acting on their behalf.

“We want to make sure that police complaints processes are accessible to anyone under 18, and are informative, empowering, compassionate and confidential. Children’s rights should be at the heart of decisions taken when handling complaints.”

The new Child Friendly Complaint Handling Guidance now forms part of the statutory guidance that PIRC issues to policing bodies on how complaints from members of the public should be handled.

As well as guidance for policing bodies, PIRC has also developed child friendly complaint handling guidance for its own staff – this will be followed when carrying out a CHR involving a child, or when dealing with any complaints received about PIRC itself.

Together contributed feedback on the draft guidance earlier this year.

Read Together’s response to the draft guidance.

Access PIRC’s Child Friendly Complaints Handling Guidance for Policing Bodies in Scotland.