Complaint Handling Reviews

The Complaints

The complaints in this case arose following various incidents during which the applicant interacted with the police. We have reviewed the handling of five complaints, namely that:

1. on 11 July 2017, an officer ordered the applicant to remove his cattle from an area which was part of common grazing land;
2. on the same day, the applicant believed the officer’s instruction was directed by a senior officer, in an attempt to intimidate and bully the applicant;
3. Police Scotland failed to investigate threats made against the applicant and another person on social media;
4. On 28 November 2018, police officers seized the applicant’s firearms which were not returned until 15 months later, without an explanation or apology for this; and
5. On 16 April 2019, an officer submitted a report to the Firearms Licensing Department and referred to the applicant as “the accused” which the applicant is dissatisfied with. 

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, 2, 4 and 5 to a reasonable standard but not so complaint 3.

We have made a single recommendation to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of complaint 3. In summary, we recommend that Police Scotland conducts further enquiries into complaint 3. Thereafter, Police Scotland should provide the applicant with a further 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.

Outcome

Police Scotland implemented the single recommendation in this case. In doing so, Police Scotland conducted further enquiries into this matter by seeking a further account and obtaining additional information. While the complaint remained not upheld, Police Scotland provided the applicant with a further response that was well reasoned and explained fully the additional information that was obtained and how this informed the conclusions reached.

Police Bodies : Police Scotland