Complaint Handling Reviews

The Complaint

The complaint in this case arose as a result of Police Scotland’s investigation into allegations of domestic abuse involving the applicant and his former wife.

1. the applicant reported domestic abuse and coercive control by his ex-partner and, during the subsequent enquiry, officers either failed to note statements from witnesses or did not fully consider evidence from those witnesses, despite the applicant being advised by officers that statements had been noted from all witnesses and acted upon, resulting in his ex-partner not being charged. 

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.

We have issued a recommendation to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of the complaint.

Specifically, We recommend that Police Scotland undertakes further necessary proportionate enquiries, taking cognisance of the observations made in our report. Police Scotland should then revisit the complaint in light of the observations made in our report and by assessing all of the evidence available. A fresh response should thereafter be provided to the applicant detailing the outcome of this assessment and explaining why the complaint has - on balance - been upheld or not upheld.

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

Outcome

Police Scotland implemented one recommendation in this case. In doing so, Police Scotland recorded the original complaint as three separate complaints. Police Scotland also conducted further enquiries by obtaining additional accounts from the officers involved. Thereafter, Police Scotland provided the applicant with a well-reasoned further response and explained that one complaint was now upheld. Police Scotland apologised to the applicant for the shortcomings identified and advised that the learning would be disseminated to the officers involved. This learning has now been brought to the attention of the officers’ line manager.

Police Bodies : Police Scotland