Complaint Handling Reviews

The Complaints

The complaints in this case arose following the applicant’s arrest. 

We have reviewed the handling of eleven complaints, namely that: 

1. Between 16 & 17 October 2021, Police Scotland acted irresponsibly and disproportionately following up the report of a crime.
2. Between the same dates, Police Scotland made unnecessary attempts to trace/contact the applicant.
3. On 17 October 2021, officers arrested the applicant unnecessarily.
4. On the same date, the subject officers had a premeditated plan when arresting the applicant.
5. On the same date and thereafter, there was insufficient investigation conducted.
6. On the same date and thereafter, the identified witness deliberately lied in his statement which resulted in the applicant being arrested
7. During October and November 2021, the applicant was dissatisfied with the response following his submission of two letters to the Chief Constable of Police Scotland, whereby he was requesting to report a crime.
8. Since 28 May 2023, Police Scotland have not recorded any crimes in respect of a report of fraud.
9. Since the same date, Police Scotland have carried out insufficient investigation in respect of a report of fraud.
10. Since the same date, Police Scotland have not provided any updates to the applicant in respect of the report of fraud.
11. The applicant is dissatisfied with the rank of the officer allocated to investigate his complaint about the police.

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, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 to a reasonable standard but not so complaint 11.

Consequently, we have made one recommendation to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of the complaints. In summary, we have recommended that Police Scotland record complaint 11 as a relevant complaint about the police. 

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

Policing bodies: Police Scotland