Report – Police Scotland – PIRC/00305/23
The Complaints
The complaints in this case arose after the applicant reported her neighbour to Police Scotland. We have reviewed the handling of three complaints, namely that:
Police Scotland informed the applicant that her neighbour would receive a police warning in relation to an incident in February 2021; however, the neighbour was not in fact given an official Recorded Police Warning (RPW);
the applicant received a response from Police Scotland in relation to an incidence from November 2021 which was factually inaccurate; and
Police Scotland have not taken the applicant’s reports in relation to her neighbour seriously or dealt with them professionally.
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 and 2 to a reasonable standard but not so complaint 3.
Consequently, we have made a single recommendation to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of complaint 3. In summary, we recommend that Police Scotland conduct further enquiries into complaint 3. Thereafter, Police Scotland should provide the applicant with a further response.
We have also identified a learning point in relation to Police Scotland’s administration of the complaints.
Our recommendation and learning point should be implemented by Police Scotland within two months of the date of this report.
Outcome
Police Scotland implemented the recommendation made in this case. In doing so, Police Scotland conducted further enquiries, reassessed the available information, and provided the applicant with a further well-reasoned response. The complaint has now been upheld and an apology issued to the applicant.
Police Scotland also implemented our learning point by disseminating learning to the officers we identified as involved in the complaint enquiry.
Police Bodies: Police Scotland