This procedure covers complaints about:

• FFLM services, events, publications, communications, and administration
• The conduct of FFLM staff, officers, and volunteers acting in an official capacity

It does not cover complaints about:

• Examination outcomes or processes
• Applications or membership decisions
• Matters that are the responsibility of employers, regulators, the police, or the courts

If a complaint is clearly for another body, we will say so and signpost accordingly.

Send a written complaint to forensic.medicine@fflm.ac.uk or by post to the FFLM office marked Confidential: complaint.

Please include:

• Your name, organisation if relevant, and contact details
• What happened, where and when
• Who was involved
• Any evidence you wish to share
• The outcome you seek

Anonymous complaints will be considered where there is enough detail to investigate fairly.

Acknowledgement: within 10 working days of receipt.

Postal address

Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine (FFLM)
11 St Andrews Place
Regent’s Park
London
NW1 4LE

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will decide the route and appoint a case handler.

If there is a conflict of interest, an alternative case handler will be appointed.

If the complaint involves alleged criminal behaviour, safeguarding concerns, or fraud, the matter will be referred to the appropriate authority (for example, the police) and internal handling may be suspended pending external investigation.

The case handler will:

• Clarify the main issues raised
• Gather relevant information and statements
• Offer the complainant an opportunity to provide further information
• Keep a written record of the process

Target timescale: conclude the investigation within 30 working days. If more time is needed, we will explain why and give a revised date.

We will send a written outcome within 10 working days of the investigation concluding. The outcome will state:

• Findings on each point of complaint
• Whether the complaint is upheld, partly upheld, or not upheld
• Any actions, remedies, or improvements we will make

Possible remedies may include:

• An apology or formal acknowledgment of error
• Correction or clarifying statement
• Change to an internal policy or process
• Staff or volunteer training
• Reimbursement of fees where appropriate and within policy
• Referral for disciplinary or governance action

If you remain dissatisfied, you may request a review within 10 working days of our outcome. Address the request to the President. If the President has already been involved another Trustee will be nominated by the Board.

The reviewer will consider whether the complaint was handled fairly, proportionately, and in accordance with this procedure. The reviewer will not reinvestigate the complaint but may uphold the outcome, amend it, or request further action. The reviewer’s decision is final.

To ensure independence, the President (or delegated Trustee) must not have been involved in the original investigation or decision-making process.

We may set communication boundaries or close a case where behaviour is abusive, repetitive without new evidence, or plainly unreasonable. Any such decision will be recorded with reasons.

We will handle information in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018, sharing it only with those who need it to consider the complaint.

In some cases we may need to share your identity with those complained about to investigate properly. Records will be kept securely and retained only as long as necessary.

Using this procedure does not affect your right to seek redress through other lawful means, such as contacting the Charity Commission, Information Commissioner’s Office, or the courts.

We will make reasonable adjustments on request. If you need a different format or assistance to submit a complaint, tell us using the contact above.

The CEO will maintain a central complaints register, review themes annually with the Registrar, and present an anonymised annual summary to the Board to inform improvements.