Complaint Handling Reviews

The Complaint

The complaint in this case arose after the applicant contacted Police Scotland to report what he believed to be a hate crime. Police Scotland advised the applicant that the circumstances did not amount to criminality, and that the incident would not be recorded as a hate crime. No further action was taken in relation to the applicant’s concerns. 

We have reviewed the handling of one complaint, namely that: 

• Police Scotland did not record an incident that the applicant reported as a hate crime. 

Police Scotland's Decision

Police Scotland did not uphold the applicant’s complaint. 

Our Findings

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

Consequently, we have made one recommendation and identified a learning point to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of the complaint. In summary, we have recommended that Police Scotland reassess the information available and, thereafter, provide the applicant with a further response which takes account of our observations and which clearly explains whether the complaint is upheld or not upheld. 

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

Police Bodies: Police Scotland