Complaint Handling Reviews

The Complaints

The complaints in this case arose after the applicant reported to the police that he had been assaulted.

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

1. The applicant’s report of assault was not investigated as a crime;
2. The applicant did not receive a call from the enquiry officer, which had been arranged for 19 March 2026, and;
3. During a call in December 2025, the person the applicant was speaking to dismissed his report as “banter” and terminated the call. 
    

Police Scotland’s Decision

Police Scotland did not uphold the applicant’s complaints. 

Our Findings

We have found that Police Scotland did not handle the complaints to a reasonable standard. 
Consequently, we have identified a learning point to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of the complaints.

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