Complaint Handling Reviews

The Complaints

The complaint in this case arose after the applicant was investigated by Police Scotland for embezzlement. 

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

1. an officer provided false information to the DVLA regarding the applicant’s fitness to drive;
2. an officer harassed the applicant by unnecessarily contacting the DVLA to ask that they assess her fitness to drive;
3. an officer discriminated against the applicant because of her disability;
4. an officer harassed the applicant by unnecessarily asking her to produce medical evidence to establish her fitness to be interviewed;
5. an officer influenced others to decline noting a statement from the applicant or gathering evidence, hindering her ability to report a crime; and
6. an officer failed to establish that the allegations against the applicant were false. 

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 2, 3, 4 and 6 to a reasonable standard but not so complaints 1 and 5. 

We have made two recommendations to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of the complaints. In summary we recommend that Police Scotland record a further complaint identified in our review, carry out further enquiries, then re-assess the information available and issue the applicant with a well reasoned, fresh response.

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

Police Bodies: Police Scotland