Complaint Handling Reviews

The Complaints

The complaints in this case arose after the applicant was charged with domestic abuse. The applicant was found not guilty at trial. The applicant and his ex-partner were subsequently charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice. The applicant was convicted of that offence. We have reviewed the handling of five complaints, namely that:

1.    on 17 October 2023, officers failed to carry out proper, proportionate and thorough investigation into allegations of domestic abuse;
2.    officers failed to recognise and treat the applicant as a victim of domestic abuse resulting in poor decision making and a lack of victim focussed care;
3.    officers failed to adequately assess risk or implement appropriate safeguarding measures despite indicators of harm;
4.    officers failed to recognise and properly consider coercive and controlling behaviour and failed to respond appropriately; and
5.    at the time of the second arrest, officers failed to consider information provided that was relevant to the allegations and the applicant’s safety.
 

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 to a reasonable standard, but not so complaints 3, 4 and 5. 
Consequently, we have made a recommendation to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of the complaints. In summary, we have recommended that Police Scotland undertake any further necessary and proportionate enquiries and reassess the available information in respect of complaint 5. Police Scotland should thereafter provide the applicant with a further well-reasoned response to the complaint. We have also identified two learning points relative to Police Scotland’s administration of the complaints.
Our recommendation and learning points should be implemented by Police Scotland within two months of the date of this report.