Complaint Handling Reviews

The Complaints

The complaints in this case arose after the applicant was arrested and taken into police custody.

We have reviewed the handling of five complaints, namely:

1. that on 4 February 2021 the applicant was unlawfully arrested;

2. the applicant spent an unreasonable amount of time in the cell of the police van;

3. four police officers failed to explain to the applicant what was happening after her arrest;

4. a male custody officer was uncivil to the applicant by stating “Maybe when you sober up you will remember where you have been”; and

5. a male custody officer was uncivil to the applicant by stating “We are sick of you banging all night”. 

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 and 3 to a reasonable standard but no so complaints 4 and 5.   We have not made any recommendation in this connection.

Police Bodies : Police Scotland