Welcome To Police Complaints Authority Website

photoJeffrey Elkinson 
I am the Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority (“PCA”) and I together with the 5 other members of the PCA, are appointed by the Governor of Bermuda.

The PCA was established by the Bermuda Government to increase public confidence in the complaints’ system against those who are there to serve the people of Bermuda by ensuring public safety and order and who have been given powers by Parliament which can be intrusive and oppressive if exercised inappropriately.  We are authorized to either supervise or investigate  allegations of misconduct, neglect of duty or negligent performance of duty by any officer and incidents of death or serious injury .

As of the 1st February 2021, our remit includes officers of the Royal Bermuda Regiment Coast Guard Unit.

Members of the public can make a complaint about an officer where it involves any misconduct, neglect of duty or negligent performance of duty. We can also launch investigations on our own initiative if it’s in the public interest to do so and, where the incident involves death or serious injury, the PCA will direct and supervise the investigation.

You can make a complaint by using the online form. It will be submitted when you press the ‘submit’ button. The form is also available to download and print which you can then complete and send to the office of the PCA – contact details are given in the ‘CONTACT US’ section. You can also send to the Commanding Officer of the Royal Bermuda Regiment Coast Guard Unit, the Professional Standards Department of the Bermuda Police Service or attend at any Police station, the office of the Professional Standards Department or the office of the PCA to make a complaint.  If you wish, you can bring  a friend or family member with you.

Someone can make a complaint on your behalf but you must give your permission in writing for them to do this. Any complaint made to an officer is immediately transmitted either to the Commanding Officer of the Royal Bermuda Regiment Coast Guard Unit or the Commissioner of Police.  They are obliged by law to then immediately transmit the complaint to the PCA.  In turn, complaints made to the PCA are notified to either the Commanding Officer of the Royal Bermuda Regiment Coast Guard Unit or the Commissioner of Police as appropriate.

By providing oversight of complaints made against officers in these services and, in appropriate cases, independently conducting investigations of any misconduct, neglect of duty or negligent performance of duty by any officer, we at the PCA hope to fulfil our mandated role and give the people of Bermuda confidence in those who serve in the Royal Bermuda Regiment Coast Guard Unit and the Bermuda Police Service.

MEMBERS OF THE PCA:-

Charles Mooney

Ernestine deGraff

Barrett Dill

Jeffrey Elkinson (Chairman)

Winston Esdaille

Charlene A Scott (Deputy Chairman)

Please click below to access the 2012/2013/2014 Police Complaints Authority Report to the Governor and Minister of National Security