Complaint Handling Reviews

The Complaints

The complaints in this case arose after the applicant was charged by the police for stalking her ex partners current partner. An officer issued the applicant with a Recorded Police Warning which the applicant appealed. The case was thereafter reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. We have reviewed the handling of two complaints, namely that: 

1. On 20 June 2023, an officer coerced the applicant into accepting a police warning by threatening to arrest her if she did not sign it; and
2. The applicant’s court citation was not delivered because Police Scotland provided the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) with a [named charity] address that does not accept incoming mail

Police Scotland's Decision

Police Scotland did not uphold either of the applicant’s complaints. 

Our Findings

We have found that Police Scotland did not handle either of the applicant’s complaints to a reasonable standard. 

Consequently, we have made a single recommendation to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of complaint 1. In summary, we recommend Police Scotland reassess complaint 1 and provide a further response letter to the applicant, which clearly explains whether the complaint is upheld/not upheld, alongside the rationale for the conclusion reached.

We have also identified two learning points in relation to Police Scotland’s administration of the complaints.

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

Policing Bodies: Police Scotland