Report – Police Scotland – PIRC/00154/25
The Complaints
The complaint in this case arose after the applicant reported that his dog was attacked to the police. An officer contacted the applicant the following day to obtain details of the incident and then made contact with the local dog warden, who said he would deal with the matter. The applicant informed the dog warden that this was a matter for the police and was dissatisfied that this incident was not being investigated by them. We have reviewed the handling of four complaints, namely that:
An officer failed to take appropriate action in response to the applicant’s report about a ‘banned breed’ of dog.
Police Scotland failed to impound a dog which was ‘dangerously out of control’ and alleged to be a ‘banned breed’.
An officer failed to update the applicant; and
An officer failed to consider whether a dog was microchipped.
Police Scotland's Decision
Police Scotland did not uphold any of the applicant’s complaints.
Our Findings
We have found that Police Scotland handled complaint 4 to a reasonable standard but not so complaints 1, 2 and 3.
Consequently, we have made a single recommendation to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of complaint 2. In summary, we have recommended that Police Scotland conducts further necessary and proportionate enquiries into complaint 2. Police Scotland should thereafter provide a further response letter to the applicant, explaining whether the complaint is now upheld/not upheld and how the information available informed the conclusion reached.
We have also identified a learning point relative to Police Scotland’s administration of the complaints.
Our recommendation and learning point should be implemented by Police Scotland within two months of the date of this report.
Outcome
Police Scotland implemented one recommendation and one learning point in this case. In doing so, Police Scotland conducted further enquiries, reassessed the complaint and provided the applicant with a further well-reasoned response. Police Scotland upheld the complaint, apologised to the applicant and identified and issued both individual and organisational learning. The learning point, which concerned communicating details of learning to complainers, was provided to the Inspector involved and was accepted.
Police Bodies: Police Scotland