# The Armed Forces (Service Complaints) Regulations 2015, Regulation 4: Procedure for making a service complaint

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

(1) A service complaint is made by a complainant making a statement of complaint in writing to the specified officer.
(2) The statement of complaint must state—
(a) how the complainant thinks himself or herself wronged;
(b) the name, where known, of any person who is alleged by the complainant to be the subject of the complaint or implicated in any way in the matter, or matters, complained about;
(c) whether any matter stated in accordance with sub-paragraph (a) involved discrimination, harassment, bullying, dishonest or biased behaviour, a failure by the Ministry of Defence to provide medical, dental or nursing care for which the Ministry of Defence was responsible or the improper exercise by a service policeman of statutory powers as a service policeman;
(d) if the complaint is not made within the period which applies under regulation 6(1), (4) or (5), the reason why the complaint was not made within that period;
(e) the redress sought; and
(f) the date on which the statement of complaint is made.
(3) The statement of complaint must also state one of the following—
(a) the date on which, to the best of the complainant’s recollection, the matter complained about occurred or probably occurred;
(b) that the matter complained about occurred over a period, and the date on which, to the best of his or her recollection, that period ended or probably ended;
(c) that the matter complained about is continuing to occur;
(d) that the complainant is unable to recollect the date referred to in sub-paragraph (a) or (b).
(4) A service complaint may only be made by one person, but other persons may make service complaints about the same or similar matters.
(5) In this regulation, “discrimination” means discrimination or victimisation on the grounds of colour, race, ethnic or national origin, nationality, sex, gender reassignment, status as a married person or civil partner, religion, belief or sexual orientation, and less favourable treatment of the complainant as a part-time employee.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/1955/regulation/4 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/armed-forces-service-complaints-regulations-2015/regulation-4
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.