How to complain about the investigating authorities?
Rigth to complain
During your arrest, the police authorities are allowed to conduct certain investigative activities, which also involve you. You can read more about investigative activities.
The police, or in some cases the prosecution, both have to respect your human and procedural rights when conducting the investigative activities. If you believe that your rights were violated, you can complain about the behaviour of the persons involved in the investigation.
What violations may occur during the investigation?
Certain violations of your human and procedural rights during an investigation may influence the outcome of your case. For example, where you have been threatened so as to give up information that incriminates you, or your lawyer has not been present at the interrogation, or you have not been given certain documents to which you are entitled. You can also complain about police mistreatment (the use of physical force or threats) during the investigation, even if you think that it did not have impact on the outcome of your case.
Where to submit the complaint?
You can complain about the behaviour of members of the investigation team to the supervising prosecutor. If you do not know who the supervising prosecutor is, you can simply address your complaint to the prosecution in general. Your complaint will be forwarded to the relevant person within the prosecution.
Complain submission and decision
The complaint can be submitted as long as the pre-trial investigation is ongoing. The complaint must be reviewed within 10 days of receiving it.
Appealing the decision
If you do not agree with the decision of the supervising prosecutor, you can appeal her or his decision to the superior prosecutor. The superior prosecutor’s decision can then in turn be appealed to the investigative judge. The decision of the investigative judge is final and cannot be appealed further.
Compensation
You can also request compensation if you believe that your rights were violated during the investigative process.
Read more how to request compensation: