Complaint Handling Reviews

The Complaints

The complaints in this case arose following the applicant reporting his nephew to police in connection with a family dispute about the living and care arrangements in place for the applicant’s mother.

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

1. in November 2021, police failed to secure BWV (Body Worn Video) footage at the scene of an incident;
2. in November 2021, the police attending failed to view or secure body camera footage / sim cards from both the applicant’s sister and nephew after the applicant had informed the police that he had been assaulted by his nephew;
3. in April 2022, when being charged by police, the applicant told them he had CCTV evidence to contradict what was being reported but the officers did not view or seize it;
4. in May 2022, when being charged by police, the applicant told them he had CCTV evidence to contradict what was being reported but the officers did not view or seize it; and
5. in September 2022, the applicant identified his nephew as responsible for vandalising his property and told officers, yet the police never went to speak with him.

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 3, 4 and 5 to a reasonable standard but not so complaints 1 and 2. 

Consequently, we have made two recommendations and identified two learning point to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of the applicant’s complaints. In summary, we recommend that Police Scotland undertake further enquiry, reassess the complaints and provide the applicant with a further response. 

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

Policing Bodies: Police Scotland