Complaints against Norfolk Constabulary rose by almost 50pc last year, with new watchdog figures showing 564 complaints containing nearly 1,500 allegations against officers.
Data published by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) shows 564 complaints were made against the force in 2025/26, up from 385 the previous year.
Those complaints generated 1,498 allegations against police officers, compared with 1,145 the year before. Individual complaints can contain multiple allegations.
Despite the increase, Norfolk Constabulary recorded fewer complaints per employee than the national average and comparable forces.
The force logged 166 complaints per 1,000 employees, compared with a national figure of 432 and a Most Similar Force average of 382.
The figures, published in the IOPC's Police Complaints Information Bulletin, cover the period from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026.
CONTACT WITH THE PUBLIC
Most complaints related to officers' delivery of duties and service, with 697 allegations recorded, up from 463 the previous year.
These included concerns about police actions following contact with the public, the level of service provided, information given to complainants and decisions made by officers.
Behaviour-related complaints also increased, with 280 allegations recorded compared with 215 the previous year.
Allegations of unfairness and lack of impartiality rose from 38 to 69, while reports of unprofessional attitudes and disrespect increased from 35 to 56.
The IOPC also recorded 78 reviews from complainants dissatisfied with how their complaints had been handled, up from 52 the previous year.
About a quarter of non-investigation reviews and 23pc of investigation reviews were upheld.
A POLICE RESPONSE
A spokeswoman for Norfolk police said: "Norfolk Constabulary has contact with hundreds of thousands of members of the public every year.
"The 564 complaints recorded during 2025/26 represent a very small proportion of those interactions.
"Data from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) shows that Norfolk remains well below both the national average and the average for forces of a similar size, recording 166 complaints per 1,000 employees compared with a 'Most Similar Force' average of 382 and a national figure of 432.
"It is important that members of the public are able to provide feedback, challenge decisions and raise concerns about the service they receive.
"Complaints are a vital part of helping us understand public expectations, identify areas where we can improve and maintain confidence in policing.
"We remain committed to providing the best possible service to the public, learning from feedback and ensuring that everyone who raises a concern is listened to fairly and respectfully."
SCANDAL AT THE FORCE
The figures come amid heightened scrutiny of the force after officers were recorded discussing a visit to a brothel and boasting about stopping and searching black women.
The conversations were captured after a body-worn camera, confiscated from animal rights protester Gemma Barnes following her arrest, was left recording inside a Norwich police station without the officers' knowledge.
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