Complaint Handling Reviews

The Complaints

The complaint in this case arose after the applicant’s neighbour reported him to the police for anti-social behaviour. The applicant lived in a block of flats and had been having ongoing issues with his neighbours. One of the applicant’s neighbours, reported a number of incidents involving the applicant to the police. She spoke with the community officer for the area, who made further enquiries with other neighbours who reported similar anti-social behaviour incidents. The applicant also made reports to the police, about another neighbour, which was recorded as a ‘hate incident’ by the police. We have reviewed the handling of eight complaints, namely that: 

1. An officer sided with the applicant’s neighbours and therefore did not remain impartial during the investigation; 
2. The applicant is dissatisfied with the lack of police action after he reported incidents;
3. An officer fabricated charges against the applicant;
4. An officer was discriminatory and intimidating towards the applicant due to his race;
5. An officer humiliated the applicant by conducting a search outside of the police station;
6. An officer used excessive force when conducting a search;
7. An officer refused to let the applicant speak to a sergeant; and
8. The applicant was contacted by an officer, who he had made a complaint about, to attend a VIPER clipping, which the applicant considers to be inappropriate.

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 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 to a reasonable standard, but not so complaint 2 and 6.  

Consequently, we have made two recommendations to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of complaints 2 and 6. In summary, we have recommended that Police Scotland conduct further enquiries and reassess both complaints. We have also recommended that Police Scotland re-visit complaint 4 following their re-assessment of complaint 2. Thereafter Police Scotland should provide the applicant with a further well-reasoned response which clearly explains the rationale for the conclusions reached.

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

Police Bodies: Police Scotland