Complaint Handling Reviews

The Complaint

The complaint in this case arose after the police asked the applicant to remove his clothing, to be seized, following the unexplained death of his sister’s partner. The applicant’s sister discovered the body of her partner at his home address. The police attended the scene and assessed the death to be unexplained and therefore requested the applicant to remove his clothing to be seized. The death was later recorded as a medical death. We have reviewed the handling of one complaint, namely that: 

1. officers made the applicant remove his clothing, which was then seized, which made him feel uncomfortable. 

Police Scotland's Decision

Police Scotland did not uphold the applicant’s complaint. 

Our Findings

We have found that Police Scotland did not handle this complaint to a reasonable standard. 

Consequently, we have made a single recommendation to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of the complaint. In summary, we have recommended that Police Scotland conducts further necessary and proportionate enquiries into the complaint. Thereafter, Police Scotland should provide the applicant with a further response which outlines whether the complaint is upheld or not, and the rationale for the determination reached.

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

Policing Bodies: Police Scotland