Complaint Handling Reviews

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Report – Police Scotland – PIRC/00643/25

06 May 2026
Content

The Complaints

The complaint in this case arose complaints in this case arose after the applicant was arrested. We have reviewed the handling of four complaints, namely that: 

  1. officer grabbed the applicant, placed his arm up his back, and took him to the ground, causing him a fractured shoulder;

  2. officers arrested the applicant unlawfully and unnecessarily;

  3. officers failed to issue the applicant with medication; and

  4. officers failed to arrange for the applicant to see a nurse to assess his injuries

Police Scotland's Decision

Police Scotland upheld complaints […], but not so complaints […]. / Police Scotland [upheld all / did not uphold any] of the applicant’s complaints.

Our Findings

We have found that Police Scotland handled complaints 2 and 3 to a reasonable standard, but not so complaints 1 and 4.

We have made four recommendations and four learning points to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of the complaints. In summary, we have recommended Police Scotland carry out further enquiry and provide the applicant with a further response. We have also recommended complaints 3 and 4 are now recorded separately

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

Police Bodies: Police Scotland

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