How do you complain about mistreatment by the police and ask for compensation?
Rigth to complain
If you believe that police officers have treated you unlawfully during your arrest, you have the right to complain about their behaviour.
You have the right to complain if you believe that the police used excessive force when arresting and/or escorting you, and also during your stay in your cell. You can also complain if the police did not ensure that your basic needs were met. For example, they did not provide you with food or water, did not call for medical aid when necessary or if they did not allow you to inform your family or employer about your arrest.
General complaints
Compliance with the law also includes the conduct of members of the Police Force, who must treat persons deprived of their personal liberty only in accordance with the law. Therefore, it is also possible to lodge complaints against the treatment of detained person, as in the case of compliance with the lawfulness of the arrest.
You may lounge the complaint to:
- the head of the police department where you are arrested according to the Act on Police Force
- the Public Prosecutor`s Office
- the Public Defender of Rights (the Ombudsperson)
You can read more about options for complaints.
Bureau of the Inspection Service
In addition to these possibilities, you are also able to file a special complaint with the Bureau of the Inspection Service of the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic, which inspects members of the armed corps, including members of the Police Force.
If you have doubts about the adequacy of the conduct of the police in charge of cell of police detention or if you are of the opinion that the conduct of a member of police was not in accordance with the law, you have the opportunity to file a complaint. You can file a complaint in accordance with the Act on the Complaints. The complaint must be sufficiently specific in the description of the facts and circumstances which you object to the investigation. It must also contain your name, surname, permanent residence address, it must be signed and it must be clear what you are looking for by that complaint.
The standard time limit for handling complaint is 60 days. The result of the examination of the complaint may be the basis for further effective application of the protection of your rights in accordance with the law.
If you have a reasonable suspicion that a member of Police Force has committed a crime by conduct towards a detained person, you can also file a criminal complaint directly with the Bureau of the Inspection Service.
Impact on your criminal case
If you believe that your mistreatment could be related to, and leave an impact on your rights in your criminal case, read more about the complaint mechanisms.
Compensation
You can also request compensation if you believe that your rights were violated due to the mistreatment by the police.
Read more how to request compensation: