Complaint Handling Reviews

The Complaints 

The complaints in this case arose when the applicant reported to Police Scotland a number of issues related to an ongoing dispute with his neighbours. 

We have reviewed the handling of six complaints, namely that: 

1. The applicant was dissatisfied with the action taken by police officers following his report of assault; 
2. The applicant was dissatisfied with the action taken by police officers when he reported that his neighbour was filming him within his home address; 
3. The applicant was dissatisfied with the action taken by police officers when he reported his neighbour for breaching Covid restrictions; 
4. An officer threatened to arrest the applicant for no reason; 
5. An officer accused the applicant of being racist; and 
6. An officer told the applicant that he would have head butted him in similar circumstances to the dispute with his neighbour. 

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, and 4 to a reasonable standard but not so complaints 2, 5 and 6. 

Consequently, we have made two recommendations to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of complaints 2 and 5. No further action is required in connection with complaint 6. In summary, we have asked Police Scotland to make additional enquiries into complaints 2 and 5, and provide the applicant with further responses thereafter. 

Our recommendations should be completed by Police Scotland within two months of the date of this report. 

Police Bodies : Police Scotland