Report – Police Scotland – PIRC/00320/25
The Complaints
The complaint in this case arose after the applicant was arrested and charged with an alleged contravention of section 127(2)(a) of the Communications Act 2003. Two coastguard officers identified the applicant as being responsible for a number of hoax calls, which had incurred an unnecessary and extensive use of resources. We have reviewed the handling of four complaints, namely that:
The applicant was wrongfully arrested and charged by the police.
Officers failed to investigate the matter and relied on the unlawful investigation of a disgraced former police officer.
Officers failed to establish that coastguards do not have efficient equipment to locate a person’s precise location, and
Officers failed to ask questions or carry out any investigation into the applicant’s whereabouts on the dates/times in question.
Police Scotland's Decision
Police Scotland did not uphold any of the applicant’s complaints.
Our Findings
We have found that Police Scotland handled all of the applicant’s complaints to a reasonable standard.
Notwithstanding, we have identified two learning points to address administrative shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of the complaints.
Our learning points should be implemented by Police Scotland within two months of the date of this report.
Police Bodies: Police Scotland