Complaint Handling Reviews

The Complaints

The complaints in this case arose after the applicant reported her ex-partner and his parents to the police for threatening and abusive behaviour.  

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

1.    on 6 May 2024, an officer failed to record the applicant’s ex-partner’s aggressive behaviour as a crime; and
2.    on 9 July 2024, the applicant’s report about her ex-partner’s behaviour was initially recorded as a crime, however this was later deemed by ‘Case Management’ to not be a crime. 
 

Police Scotland’s Decision

Police Scotland upheld complaint 1 but did not uphold complaint 2.

Our Findings

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

Nevertheless, we have made one recommendation and identified one learning point to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of the complaints. In summary, we have recommended that Police Scotland provide the applicant with an update in relation to the next steps that will be or have been taken following the findings of complaint 1. Our learning point relates to the correct use of Front Line Resolution.

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

Police Bodies: Police Scotland