Complaint Handling Reviews

The Complaints

The complaints in this case arose after the police conducted a search of the applicant’s home when attempting to locate her son. We have reviewed the handling of four complaints, namely that: 

1. officers entered and searched the applicant’s property without permission or legal basis;
2. eight officers surrounded the applicant’s property when looking for her son;
3. an officer barged past the applicant, pushing her out of the way, to enter and search her property; and
4. officers were rude and sarcastic towards the applicant.

Police Scotland's Decision

Police Scotland did not uphold any of the applicant’s complaints

Our Findings

We have found that Police Scotland handled complaints 2, 3 and 4 to a reasonable standard but not so complaint 1. 

Consequently, we have made a recommendation to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of complaint 1. In summary, we recommend that Police Scotland undertakes further necessary and proportionate enquiries and reassesses the complaint in light of the information obtained, following which a further response should be provided to the applicant.

Our recommendation should be implemented by Police Scotland within two months of the date of this report.

Outcome

Police Scotland implemented one recommendation. While the complaint remained not upheld, Police Scotland conducted further enquiries, which identified issues in the recording of the search of the applicant’s property and identified learning for the subject officer in this regard. Thereafter, Police Scotland provided the applicant with a further well-reasoned response which clearly explained why her complaint remained not upheld.

Police Bodies: Police Scotland