Terms of Service

By accessing and using OpenPolice ("the Platform"), you accept and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these terms, you must not use the Platform.

These terms apply to all visitors, users, and others who access or use the Platform, whether registered or unregistered.

OpenPolice is a UK police accountability platform designed to:

• Provide transparency regarding police forces, officers, and conduct matters across the United Kingdom
• Allow citizens to access publicly available information about police forces, courts, prisons, and related institutions
• Enable users to submit reports and share experiences related to police conduct
• Aggregate and present data from official sources including government databases and Freedom of Information requests
• Foster community engagement and accountability in policing

OpenPolice is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any police force, government body, or official institution. We operate independently as a public interest platform.

To access certain features of the Platform, you may need to create an account. When creating an account, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information
• Maintain and promptly update your account information
• Keep your password secure and confidential
• Accept responsibility for all activities under your account
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms or are used for fraudulent or malicious purposes.

You agree to use the Platform only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these terms. You must not:

• Submit false, misleading, or defamatory information
• Harass, threaten, or intimidate any individual
• Impersonate any person or entity
• Interfere with or disrupt the Platform's operation
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Platform
• Use the Platform to violate any applicable law or regulation
• Collect or harvest user data without authorization
• Use automated systems or bots to access the Platform without permission

When submitting content to the Platform, including reports, comments, and reviews, you:

• Confirm that your submission is truthful and accurate to the best of your knowledge
• Grant OpenPolice a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute your content
• Retain ownership of your original content
• Accept that submissions may be reviewed, moderated, or removed at our discretion
• Understand that submissions may be shared with relevant authorities if required by law

We encourage users to provide evidence and documentation to support their submissions where possible. However, you must not submit:

• Content that identifies victims of crime without their consent
• Information that could prejudice ongoing legal proceedings
• Material that violates court orders or reporting restrictions
• Personal data of individuals without lawful basis

OpenPolice strives to provide accurate and up-to-date information. However:

• Information is provided "as is" and may contain errors or omissions
• Data from official sources may be delayed or outdated
• User-submitted content represents individual perspectives and may not be verified
• We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information

Users should independently verify information before relying on it for any purpose, particularly for legal matters.

Your privacy is important to us. Our collection and use of personal data is governed by our Privacy Policy, which forms part of these terms.

We comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Key points include:

• We collect only necessary personal data
• Your data is processed lawfully, fairly, and transparently
• You have rights to access, correct, and delete your personal data
• We implement appropriate security measures to protect your data

The Platform and its original content (excluding user submissions) are owned by OpenPolice and protected by intellectual property laws. This includes:

• Website design, logos, and branding
• Software, code, and functionality
• Original written content and documentation

Open Government Licence

OpenPolice uses public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. This includes data from:

• Police force information and statistics
• Court and tribunal data
• Prison and probation information
• Other government datasets

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

The Platform is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. We make no warranties, expressed or implied, including but not limited to:

• The Platform will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free
• Results obtained from using the Platform will be accurate or reliable
• Any errors in the Platform will be corrected

OpenPolice does not endorse or verify user-submitted content. The views expressed by users do not represent the views of OpenPolice.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, OpenPolice shall not be liable for any:

• Indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• Loss of profits, data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses
• Damages resulting from unauthorized access to or use of our servers
• Damages resulting from any third-party content or conduct on the Platform

Nothing in these terms excludes or limits our liability for death or personal injury arising from our negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot be excluded or limited by English law.

We may terminate or suspend your access to the Platform immediately, without prior notice or liability, for any reason, including but not limited to breach of these terms.

Upon termination, your right to use the Platform will cease immediately. If you wish to terminate your account, you may do so by contacting us or using the account deletion feature.

We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time. When we make changes, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
• Notify registered users of significant changes via email
• Post a notice on the Platform for material changes

Your continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the new terms.

These terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising from these terms or your use of the Platform shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us: