Complaint Handling Reviews

The Complaints

The complaints in this case arose after police officers conducted a welfare check on the applicant. Following further contact from a family member, police attended the applicant’s address for a second time and subsequently detained her under section 297 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.

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

1. the applicant is dissatisfied with being arrested under the Mental Health Act and detained against her will, after reporting strange skyline activity;
2. the applicant is unhappy with the lack of investigation by the police regarding illegal technology being used against her; and
3. the applicant is dissatisfied regarding the lack of contact from Police Scotland after she made her complaints.

Police Scotland's Decision

Police Scotland upheld complaint 3 but did not uphold complaints 1 and 2.

Our Findings

We have found that Police Scotland handled all of the complaints to a reasonable standard.

We have identified a learning point for Police Scotland which encourages complaint handlers to identify and highlight examples of good policing practice to the officers involved.

Our learning point should be implemented by Police Scotland within two months of the date of our report.

Outcome

Police Scotland implemented a Learning Point we identified in our complaint handling review. In doing so, it included the Learning Point in the Learning Points report for Complaint Handlers and provided us with confirmation that it has now been shared with Police Scotland’s Professional Standards Department.

Police Bodies: Police Scotland