Publications

28 July 2021 | Complaint Reviews

Report - Police Scotland PIRC/00246/20

Our role is to review the way in which policing bodies handle complaints made about them. It is not to investigate the circumstances which led to the complaint or uphold allegations made. When carrying out a Complaint Handling Review (CHR) we consider a number of factors, including whether police carried out sufficient enquiries; their response was supported by the material information available and whether the police response was adequately reasoned.

See a Report Summary of the relevant CHR below. To comply with UK Government accessibility regulations we no longer publish documents in PDF form, so it’s currently not feasible for us to publish a full copy of the report.

The Complaints

The complaints in this case arose as a result of the applicant’s contact with Police Scotland between 2017 and 2019. We have reviewed the handling of four complaints, namely that:

1. Police Scotland told the applicant nothing could be done about content posted on Facebook which related to him;
2. the applicant was detained in custody over a weekend due to bail offences but was then released without charge;
3. whilst being transported from prison to the police station, the applicant was handcuffed and required to walk upstairs whilst being unable to use his walking stick; and
4. a police officer was uncivil towards the applicant.

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

Consequently, we have made two recommendations to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of the complaints.  In summary, we have recommended that Police Scotland revisit complaints 1 and 3 and provide the applicant a further response.

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

Police Bodies : Police Scotland

20 July 2021 | Complaint Reviews

Report - Police Scotland PIRC/00560/20

Our role is to review the way in which policing bodies handle complaints made about them. It is not to investigate the circumstances which led to the complaint or uphold allegations made. When carrying out a Complaint Handling Review (CHR) we consider a number of factors, including whether police carried out sufficient enquiries; their response was supported by the material information available and whether the police response was adequately reasoned.

See a Report Summary of the relevant CHR below. To comply with UK Government accessibility regulations we no longer publish documents in PDF form, so it’s currently not feasible for us to publish a full copy of the report.

The Complaints

The complaints in this case arose during the course of a criminal investigation involving the applicant. We have reviewed the handling of three complaints, namely that:

1. a police officer against whom the applicant previously submitted a complaint was permitted to investigate a case against him;
2. the same police officer was upset about the applicant’s complaint against him which impacted on a separate investigation that he was conducting; and
3. during the course of a Joint Investigative Interview, police officers failed to question the applicant’s daughter about her involvement in a matter which led to the applicant being charged.  

Police Scotland’s Decision

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

Our Findings

We have found that Police Scotland handled the applicant’s complaints to a reasonable standard.

Police Bodies : Police Scotland

20 July 2021 | Complaint Reviews

Report - Police Scotland PIRC/479/20

Our role is to review the way in which policing bodies handle complaints made about them. It is not to investigate the circumstances which led to the complaint or uphold allegations made. When carrying out a Complaint Handling Review (CHR) we consider a number of factors, including whether police carried out sufficient enquiries; their response was supported by the material information available and whether the police response was adequately reasoned.

See a Report Summary of the relevant CHR below. To comply with UK Government accessibility regulations we no longer publish documents in PDF form, so it’s currently not feasible for us to publish a full copy of the report.

The Complaints

The complaints in this case arose after the applicant contacted Police Scotland to report his neighbour for driving a car that was declared ‘SORN’.

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

1. officers failed to properly investigate a report the applicant had made regarding a vehicle which was notified as ‘SORN’;
2. officers allowed the buyers of this vehicle to travel inappropriately during COVID restrictions;
3. an officer was unprofessional towards the applicant during a phone call;
4. two traffic officers acted inappropriately by blocking the road with their vehicle when they stopped and spoke to the applicant; and
5. the same two traffic officers spoke to the applicant in an impolite and inappropriate manner.

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

Consequently, we have made one recommendation to address an administrative shortcoming identified in the recording of complaint 5. We have also identified a learning point.

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

Police Bodies : Police Scotland

20 July 2021 | Complaint Reviews

Report - Police Scotland PIRC/00511/20

Our role is to review the way in which policing bodies handle complaints made about them. It is not to investigate the circumstances which led to the complaint or uphold allegations made. When carrying out a Complaint Handling Review (CHR) we consider a number of factors, including whether police carried out sufficient enquiries; their response was supported by the material information available and whether the police response was adequately reasoned.

See a Report Summary of the relevant CHR below. To comply with UK Government accessibility regulations we no longer publish documents in PDF form, so it’s currently not feasible for us to publish a full copy of the report.

The Complaints

The complaints in this case arose after police officers stopped the applicant whilst she was driving her car and breathalysed her.

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

1. two officers stopped the applicant for driving too slowly at 50mph;
2. two officers placed the applicant into a police vehicle which was contaminated with dried blood;
3. two officers breathalysed the applicant for no reason;
4. a male officer was cheeky and unprofessional to the applicant; and
5. the applicant was stopped and breathalysed due to her ethnicity.

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

Consequently, we have made three recommendations to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of the complaints.

In relation to complaints 2, 4 and 5, we recommend that Police Scotland conduct further, necessary enquiries in order to address the applicant’s complaints fully. A further response should thereafter be issued to the applicant explaining whether those complaints have been upheld or not upheld.

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

Police Bodies : Police Scotland

20 July 2021 | Complaint Reviews

Report - Police Scotland PIRC/00401/20

Our role is to review the way in which policing bodies handle complaints made about them. It is not to investigate the circumstances which led to the complaint or uphold allegations made. When carrying out a Complaint Handling Review (CHR) we consider a number of factors, including whether police carried out sufficient enquiries; their response was supported by the material information available and whether the police response was adequately reasoned.

See a Report Summary of the relevant CHR below. To comply with UK Government accessibility regulations we no longer publish documents in PDF form, so it’s currently not feasible for us to publish a full copy of the report.

The Complaints

The complaints in this case arose after the applicant attended his local police station to report his ex-partner’s behaviour towards him.

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

1. The applicant is dissatisfied by the way he was spoken to by an officer; and
2. The applicant does not believe his concerns were fully investigated.

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.

We have made two recommendations to address the shortcomings we have identified in Police Scotland’s handling of complaint 1 and the recording of complaint 2. We have also issued three learning points.

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

Police Bodies : Police Scotland

28 June 2021 | Complaint Reviews

Report - Police Scotland PIRC/00393/20

Our role is to review the way in which policing bodies handle complaints made about them. It is not to investigate the circumstances which led to the complaint or uphold allegations made. When carrying out a Complaint Handling Review (CHR) we consider a number of factors, including whether police carried out sufficient enquiries; their response was supported by the material information available and whether the police response was adequately reasoned.

See a Report Summary of the relevant CHR below. To comply with UK Government accessibility regulations we no longer publish documents in PDF form, so it’s currently not feasible for us to publish a full copy of the report.

The Complaints

The complaints in this case arose following the applicant being arrested at his place of work in order to be interviewed. We have reviewed the handling of seven complaints, namely that:

1. the applicant was arrested from his place of work which caused him humiliation;
2. there was no consideration taken in relation to the impact of the applicant’s arrest on his practice or patients;
3. an officer lied to the applicant by informing him that he would be released on the same day;
4. the applicant did not request a solicitor because he was informed that he would be released after his interview and when he did later request a solicitor, the officers did not contact him;
5. the applicant was treated unfairly during his interview, which was rushed;
6. an officer lied to the applicant by informing him that she was off duty the day before his arrest; and
7. after making a complaint, the applicant had to contact the police for an update.

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 1, 2, 5 and 6 to a reasonable standard but not so complaints 3, 4 and 7.

We have made three recommendations to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of the complaints.

In relation to complaint 3, we recommend that Police Scotland reassess the complaint and come to a determination on whether the officers indicated that the applicant would return to work that day.

In relation to complaint 4, we recommend that Police Scotland split the complaint into two aspects and conduct the necessary enquiries in order to respond to the crux of the complaint.

In relation to complaint 7, the complaint should be reassessed and Police Scotland should come to a determination on whether the updates provided to the applicant during the complaint were sufficient.

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

Police Bodies : Police Scotland

22 June 2021 | Complaint Reviews

Report - Police Scotland PIRC/00575/20

Our role is to review the way in which policing bodies handle complaints made about them. It is not to investigate the circumstances which led to the complaint or uphold allegations made. When carrying out a Complaint Handling Review (CHR) we consider a number of factors, including whether police carried out sufficient enquiries; their response was supported by the material information available and whether the police response was adequately reasoned.

See a Report Summary of the relevant CHR below. To comply with UK Government accessibility regulations we no longer publish documents in PDF form, so it’s currently not feasible for us to publish a full copy of the report.

The Complaints

The complaint in this case arose when the applicant contacted Police Scotland via 999 to report an ongoing breach of Covid -19 Regulations at student accommodation.

We have reviewed the handling of a single complaint, namely that a Police Scotland Service Advisor was rude and spoke to the applicant in a high pitched tone during the course of a 999 call.

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 recommended that Police Scotland revisit the applicant’s complaint and provide a further response which addresses the shortcomings that we have identified. We also identified a learning point in which we have asked Police Scotland to ensure that care is taken to comply with the procedures set out in the Complaints Against Police Standard Operating Procedure.

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

Police Bodies : Police Scotland

21 June 2021 | Complaint Reviews

Report - Police Scotland PIRC/00561/20

Our role is to review the way in which policing bodies handle complaints made about them. It is not to investigate the circumstances which led to the complaint or uphold allegations made. When carrying out a Complaint Handling Review (CHR) we consider a number of factors, including whether police carried out sufficient enquiries; their response was supported by the material information available and whether the police response was adequately reasoned.

See a Report Summary of the relevant CHR below. To comply with UK Government accessibility regulations we no longer publish documents in PDF form, so it’s currently not feasible for us to publish a full copy of the report.

The Complaints

The complaints in this case arose after the applicant reported to Police Scotland that he had been physically abused by his parents during the 1970s and 1980s.We have reviewed the handling of two complaints that:

1. police officers failed to fully investigate the applicant’s allegation of non-recent child abuse; and,
2. an officer was evasive during a telephone call.

Police Scotland’s Decision

Police Scotland did not uphold complaint 1 and did not reach a separate conclusion for complaint 2.

Our Findings

We have found that Police Scotland handled complaint 1 to a reasonable standard, but no so complaint 2. Consequently, we have made a recommendation to address the shortcoming we identified in the handling of complaint 2.  

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

Police Bodies : Police Scotland

21 June 2021 | Complaint Reviews

Report - Police Scotland PIRC/00513/20

Our role is to review the way in which policing bodies handle complaints made about them. It is not to investigate the circumstances which led to the complaint or uphold allegations made. When carrying out a Complaint Handling Review (CHR) we consider a number of factors, including whether police carried out sufficient enquiries; their response was supported by the material information available and whether the police response was adequately reasoned.

See a Report Summary of the relevant CHR below. To comply with UK Government accessibility regulations we no longer publish documents in PDF form, so it’s currently not feasible for us to publish a full copy of the report.

The Complaints

The complaints in this case arose after the police executed a search warrant at the applicant’s home address.

We have reviewed the handling of three complaints that:

1. officers did not read the warrant to the applicant;
2. officers arrived to execute the warrant too late in the evening and there were too many officers in attendance; and
3. officers did not take care near the applicant’s aviary, resulting in his birds being frightened and causing one of them an injury.

Police Scotland’s Decision

Police Scotland did not uphold the applicant’s complaint.

Our Findings

We have found that Police Scotland handled complaints 2 and 3 to a reasonable standard, but not so complaint 1.

In relation to complaint 1, we found this complaint to be not reasonably handled. We have made no recommendations in this connection.

In relation to complaint 2, we have made a recommendation to Police Scotland to address an administrative shortcoming. We have also identified a learning point.

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

Police Bodies : Police Scotland

21 June 2021 | Complaint Reviews

Report - Police Scotland PIRC/00430/20

Our role is to review the way in which policing bodies handle complaints made about them. It is not to investigate the circumstances which led to the complaint or uphold allegations made. When carrying out a Complaint Handling Review (CHR) we consider a number of factors, including whether police carried out sufficient enquiries; their response was supported by the material information available and whether the police response was adequately reasoned.

See a Report Summary of the relevant CHR below. To comply with UK Government accessibility regulations we no longer publish documents in PDF form, so it’s currently not feasible for us to publish a full copy of the report.

The Complaints

The complaints in this case arose after the applicant’s son was stopped by police for a roadside check.

We have reviewed the handling of eight complaints that:

1. A male officer has continued to bully and provoke the applicant’s son with full knowledge of his fragile mental condition;
2. On 11 July 2020, a male officer carried out an unlawful personal search of the applicant’s son with no grounds to do so;

1. On 11 July 2020, a male officer, in a demonstration of unnecessary and unlawful force, handcuffed the applicant’s son and placed him under arrest;
2. On 11 July 2020, a male officer sought to goad and provoke the applicant’s son for over 15 minutes in the back of a police car;
3. On 11 July 2020, a male officer, knowing that the applicant’s son is a vulnerable adult, did not seek an appropriate adult to attend;
4. The applicant is dissatisfied that his son has been left with no idea as to whether he has been charged, and if so, the nature of the charge;
5. An officer’s driving fell short of the standards expected of a police officer, with the officer driving in a manner to antagonise the applicant and almost cause an accident; and
6. The applicant is dissatisfied that he was given an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) warning for his driving by a male officer when he had in fact exhibited due care and attention reacting to the male officer’s driving

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 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 to a reasonable standard, but not complaint 2. We have made a recommendation to address shortcomings identified in complaint 2 and a further recommendation to Police Scotland to address an administrative shortcoming we identified in the recording of complaints 4, 5, and 6.

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

Police Bodies : Police Scotland