Government & law
Can I complain about a government agency?
The Ombudsman investigates complaints about central and local government agencies when internal complaints fail.
If a government department, council, or other public agency treated you unfairly, start with their formal complaints process. Keep dates and reference numbers.
If you are still stuck, the Office of the Ombudsman may investigate whether the agency acted reasonably and followed law and policy. They also handle Official Information Act requests in some situations.
The Ombudsman is independent. Their website explains what they can and cannot look at. Educational signposting only.
Official resources
Always confirm details on the official site — laws and processes can change.
Educational signposting only from the Resilience Programme. Not legal, financial, or medical advice. Updated 2026-07-10.