Complaint Handling Reviews

The Complaint

The complaint in this case arose following a disturbance in a licenced premises which resulted in a male patron being arrested and charged with assaulting the applicant and a police officer. The applicant specified that he considered that the off-duty officer was drunk in licenced premises; she acted in a disorderly manner; and she refused to leave the licenced premises when asked. The applicant stated that her conduct resulted in him suffering injuries worse than he would otherwise have. 

We have reviewed the handling of one complaint, namely that: 

• officers failed to make sufficient enquiry into the applicant’s report of a drunk female off duty police officer who would not leave a licenced premises and interfered with the arrest of a male patron.

Police Scotland's Decision

Police Scotland did not uphold the applicant’s complaint. 

Our Findings

We have found that Police Scotland did not handle the applicant’s complaint to a reasonable standard.

Consequently, we have issued a reconsideration direction. We have asked Police Scotland to record the applicant’s original complaint, conduct further proportionate and necessary enquiries, and re-assess the available information.  A further response should then be provided to the applicant.

Our reconsideration direction should be completed by Police Scotland within two months of the date of this report.

Outcome

Police Scotland implemented the reconsideration direction. In doing so, Police Scotland recorded the applicant’s complaints as relevant complaints about the police and conducted further enquiries into them. Police Scotland thereafter provided a further response to the complaints which was well reasoned and clearly explained why each complaint was now upheld. Learning was disseminated directly to the subject officer concerned, and more widely to the relevant division in terms of the recording and investigation of complaints about police.

Police Bodies: Police Scotland