Directory · 13 entries

Bodies that investigate and decide allegations: directory

This directory lists official bodies that receive, investigate or decide allegations outside the ordinary trial process, and some that decide whether a case goes to court. Each cell comes from the body's own rules, website or annual report. Blank cells mean the page read did not state the fact. The UK House of Commons uses the balance of probabilities ¹, for example, and the European Ombudsman can propose a solution or find maladministration ⁶.

Last checked 6 November 2026

13 / 13

Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
Jurisdiction
United Kingdom
What it investigates
Allegations that a named MP broke the House of Commons Code of Conduct ²
Possible outcomes
No breach, rectification, or referral to the Committee on Standards, decided on the balance of probabilities ¹
Source
Procedural Protocol, 24 February 2023 ¹
Committee on Standards and the House of Commons
Jurisdiction
United Kingdom
What it investigates
Cases referred by the Commissioner ¹
Possible outcomes
Apology, training, repayment, and through the House suspension, loss of salary or expulsion ¹
Source
Procedural Protocol ¹
Independent Expert Panel
Jurisdiction
United Kingdom
What it investigates
Appeals by MPs against breach findings or sanctions ¹
Possible outcomes
A decision on the appeal that may not be appealed further ¹
Source
Procedural Protocol ¹
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Jurisdiction
Canada
What it investigates
Requests by members with reasonable grounds, House resolutions, or own-initiative inquiries under the Members' Code ³
Possible outcomes
No breach, breach with no sanction recommended, or breach with sanctions recommended, the House decides ³
Source
Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons, sections 27 and 28 ³
House Committee on Ethics
Jurisdiction
United States
What it investigates
Alleged violations of the Code of Official Conduct by current House Members, officers and employees ⁴
Published statistics
Submissions are confidential and their status is usually not disclosed ⁴
Source
File a Complaint page ⁴
Commissioner for Standards in Public Life
Jurisdiction
Malta
What it investigates
Members of Parliament, including ministers, and persons of trust ⁵
Possible outcomes
No misconduct, misconduct referred to the Standing Committee, or a remedy such as an apology for a minor breach ⁵
Published statistics
30 new complaints and 12 investigations concluded in 2025, misconduct found in 6 ⁵
Source
Annual Report 2025 ⁵
European Ombudsman
Jurisdiction
European Union
What it investigates
Complaints about EU institutions and bodies, after the complainant has tried the body first ⁶
Possible outcomes
Solution, maladministration with recommendations, or no maladministration ⁶
Published statistics
3,490 new complaints and 492 inquiries opened in 2025 ⁷
Source
How we work ⁶, Annual Report 2025 ⁷
Financial Ombudsman Service
Jurisdiction
United Kingdom
What it investigates
Consumer complaints about financial businesses ⁸
Possible outcomes
Investigator view, then an ombudsman final decision that binds the business if the consumer accepts ⁹
Published statistics
214,600 new complaints and a 30% uphold rate in 2025/26 ⁸
Source
Annual complaints data 2025/26 ⁸, What to expect ⁹
Public Service Ombudsman
Jurisdiction
United Kingdom
What it investigates
Complaints about the NHS in England and UK government services ¹⁰
Possible outcomes
Upheld where failings caused harm not put right, with recommendations such as an apology or payment ¹¹
Published statistics
Annual data published for each year from 1 April to 31 March ¹⁰
Source
How we deal with complaints ¹¹, Annual data on complaints ¹⁰
Commission on Administrative Justice (Office of the Ombudsman)
Jurisdiction
Kenya
What it investigates
Delay, abuse of power, unfair treatment, manifest injustice and discourtesy in the public sector, national and county government ¹²
Source
Commission home page ¹²
Securities and Exchange Commission
Jurisdiction
United States
What it investigates
Tips, complaints and referrals, with 53,753 received in fiscal year 2025 ¹³
Possible outcomes
Enforcement action, officer and director bars, or closure without action ¹³
Published statistics
456 enforcement actions and 1,095 matters closed without action in fiscal year 2025 ¹³
Source
SEC fiscal year 2025 results ¹³
Financial Conduct Authority
Jurisdiction
United Kingdom
What it investigates
Enforcement operations, 130 open at 31 March 2025 ¹⁴
Possible outcomes
Warning notice, decision notice and final notice ¹⁵
Published statistics
23 operations opened and 81 closed in 2024/25 ¹⁴
Source
FCA Enforcement page ¹⁵, FCA Enforcement data 2024/25 ¹⁴
Crown Prosecution Service
Jurisdiction
United Kingdom
What it investigates
Decides charges in cases investigated by police and other investigators in England and Wales ¹⁶
Possible outcomes
Charge under the Full Code Test or Threshold Test, or no prosecution ¹⁶
Source
Code for Crown Prosecutors ¹⁶

Notes

The UK Public Service Ombudsman home page uses that name. The web addresses of its earlier annual reports use the name Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman ¹⁰.
Statistics use the period each body reports. The SEC fiscal year ended on 30 September 2025 ¹³. The FCA year ran from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 ¹⁴.

Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email hello@allegationindex.org.

Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards

Committee on Standards and the House of Commons

Independent Expert Panel

Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner

House Committee on Ethics

Commissioner for Standards in Public Life

European Ombudsman

Financial Ombudsman Service

Public Service Ombudsman

Commission on Administrative Justice (Office of the Ombudsman)

Securities and Exchange Commission

Financial Conduct Authority

Crown Prosecution Service

Notes

Sources