Complaint Handling Reviews

The Complaints

The complaints in this case arose after the applicant reported a number of incidents to the police.  We have reviewed the handling of three complaints, namely that:

1. Police Scotland did not investigate an incident the applicant reported on 18 December 2021;
2. in relation to the same incident, Police Scotland did not contact the applicant’s partner to allow her to amend her statement, despite a request to do so; and
3. on 8 January 2022, Police Scotland did not investigate reports made by the applicant’s partner. 
    

Police Scotland’s Decision

Police Scotland did not uphold any of the applicant’s complaints.

Our Findings

We have found that Police Scotland handled complaint 1 to a reasonable standard but not so complaints 2 and 3.

Consequently, we have made two recommendations to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of the complaints. In summary , we recommend that Police Scotland carry out proportionate enquiries, re-asses the information available and issue a fresh response which makes clear to the applicant whether his complaints have been upheld or not upheld.

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

Outcome

Police Scotland implemented both recommendations made in our CHR. In doing so, it conducted further necessary and proportionate enquiries and re-assessed all the information available. While both complaints remained not upheld, the applicant was provided with a further response which was detailed and well reasoned.

Police Bodies : Police Scotland