Complaint Handling Reviews

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Report – Police Scotland – PIRC/00620/25

04 Dec 2025
Content

The Complaints

The complaints in this case arose after the applicant contacted Police Scotland in relation to what he considered to be anti-social behaviour/breach of the peace on two occasions on the same date. We have reviewed the handling of two complaints, namely that: 

  1.  On 12 March 2023, Police Scotland failed to record and investigate a crime, and 

  2. On the same date, an officer lied and said that the applicant did not want to report a crime. 

Police Scotland's Decision

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

Our Findings

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

Consequently, we have made three recommendations to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of the complaints. In summary, we have recommended that Police Scotland reassess complaints 1 and 2 and provide the applicant with further responses. In addition, in relation to complaint 2, we have recommended that Police Scotland re-categorise the complaint. 

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

Police Bodies: Police Scotland

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