Complaint Handling Reviews

The Complaints

The complaints in this case arose when, in two separate instances, Police Scotland attempted to trace and arrest the applicant. We have reviewed the handling of five complaints, namely that:

1. Between 11 and 16 November 2020, police officers harassed the applicant and members of his family by visiting a number of addresses in an attempt to trace and arrest him;

2. Police officers conducted a “sting operation” involving the applicant’s children;

3. Police officers made unfounded allegations that the applicant was going to “flee” with his children;

4. Between 30 January and 1 February 2021, police officers harassed the applicant and members of his family by visiting a number of addresses in an attempt to trace and arrest him; and

5. Police officers waited in an unmarked car at a drop off point where the applicant had previously arranged to leave gifts for his children.

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

However, we have not made any recommendation in this connection.

Police Bodies : Police Scotland