ff provide the police with feedback from members of the public who have direct experience of police practice; ff facilitate access to the right to an effective remedy for a breach of an ECHR right as required under Article 13 of the ECHR; ff prevent police ill-treatment and misconduct; ff in association with the police and other regulatory bodies, set, monitor and enforce policing standards; and ff learn lessons about police policy and practice. 23. All complaints, including service complaints, provide police services with opportunities to learn lessons directly from the public and serve as important indicators of police responsiveness and accountability to the community. 24. For the prevention of police ill-treatment and misconduct to be effective all grievances against the police, including service complaints, need to be handled by appropriate means. Complaints, and the way in which they are handled, need to be differentiated according to the seriousness of the allegation and the potential consequences for the officer complained against. 25. The police complaints system should operate in addition to, and not as an alternative to criminal, public and private legal remedies for police misconduct. 26. There are four principal types of complaint against the conduct of a police officer concerning allegations of: ff misconduct from which issues of criminal culpability arise; ff violation of a fundamental human right or freedom; ff misconduct from which issues of disciplinary culpability arise; and ff poor or inadequate work performance. 27. Procedures for less serious complaints should not be so bureaucratic that a potential complainant may be deterred from making a complaint. If criminal proceedings or disciplinary action arise as a consequence of a complaint there must be sufficient safeguards in order to protect the rights of the police officer complained against. 28. A police complaints system should be understandable, open and accessible, and have positive regard to and understanding of issues of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, belief, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability and age. It should be efficient and properly resourced, and contribute to the development of a caring culture in the delivery of policing services. Effective investigation of ill-treatment – Guidelines ► Page 88