Terms of reference: super-complaint on the Service Police’s access to victims’ work emails and internet browser history
Updated 10 March 2026
Applies to England and Wales
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Background
On 5 August 2025, HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary (HMCI) received a Service Police super-complaint from the Centre for Military Justice. This super-complaint concerns the Service Police’s access to victims’ work emails and internet browser history.
In October 2025, HMCI and the interim Service Police Complaints Commissioner assessed the super-complaint and decided it was eligible for investigation.
The purpose of the investigation is to determine if the features of policing that the Centre for Military Justice has alleged are, or appear to be, significantly harming the interests of the public.
The investigation
The investigation will consider:
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to what extent the Service Police access a victim’s Ministry of Defence work email account for the purposes of their police investigation, without the victim’s knowledge or consent, after a victim has reported a crime; and
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to what extent the Service Police access a victim’s Ministry of Defence internet browser history for the purposes of their police investigation, without the victim’s knowledge or consent, after a victim has reported a crime
Sexual offences are the focus of the investigation, but it may include other crime types. And the investigation may also include cases where the Service Police have requested suspects’ data.
The investigation will consider both features alleged by the Centre for Military Justice but may focus on one feature in more depth than the other.
If the investigation determines that the above practices are occurring, it will consider whether the practices are, or appear to be, significantly harming the interests of the public. And the investigation will consider what, if any, actions and recommendations may be required to address any harm.
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Super-complaint on Service Police access to victims’ work emails and internet browser history