Complaint Handling Reviews

The Complaint

The complaint in this case arose after the applicant was issued with a Recorded Police Warning for an offence under section 52(1) of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 in respect of removing and damaging signage from a boundary wall of his garden. We have reviewed the handling of a single complaint, namely that:

1. The police displayed an inconsistency in approach between the warning the applicant was given by officers for taking down a sign, against no action being taken regarding a vandalism that the applicant reported.

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 made a recommendation and identified a learning point to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of the complaint. In summary, we have recommended that Police Scotland carry out any further necessary and proportionate enquiry and thereafter provide the applicant with a well-reasoned further response. Our learning point is a reminder that Front Line Resolution is applicable only where the complainer agrees to the complaint being dealt with in this way. 

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

Police Bodies: Police Scotland