Report – Police Scotland – PIRC/00451/25
The Complaints
We have reviewed the handling of four complaints, namely that:
Since January 2024, the police have failed to act in regard to reported incidents with the applicant’s neighbour.
On 13 February 2025, an officer did not explain the reason why a crime has not been recorded and refused to collect and examine evidence.
Police Scotland took too long to investigate the applicant’s complaint about the police.
Police failed to proactively address an ongoing neighbour issue reported over an extended period of time.
Police Scotland's Decision
Police Scotland upheld complaints 3 and 4, but did not uphold complaints 1 and 2.
Our Findings
We have found that Police Scotland handled complaints 2 and 4 to a reasonable standard but not so complaints 1 and 3.
Consequently, we have made four recommendations and issued a Learning Point to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of the complaints. In summary, we have recommended that Police Scotland reassess the available information in light of our observations and, thereafter, provide the applicant with a well-reasoned further response which clearly explains whether the complaints are upheld or not upheld. In respect of complaint 2, we have recommended that Police Scotland record the two elements of the complaint as separate complaints about the police. Our Learning Point relates to the delay in responding to complaints.
Our recommendations and Learning Point should be implemented by Police Scotland within two months of the date of this report.
Police Bodies: Police Scotland