Report – Police Scotland – PIRC/00652/25
The Complaints
The complaints in this case arose after the applicant made a report to the police on 12 June 2024 about an alleged assault. She alleged that her neighbour assaulted her during a dispute about parking. The applicant said that her neighbour had pushed and kicked her to the head and body.
Police officers attended and spoke to both the applicant and her neighbour. No witnesses to the incident itself were identified. The applicant’s neighbour was issued with a Recorded Police Warning (RPW) for behaving in a threatening or abusive manner towards the applicant by shouting and swearing.
The applicant made two online complaint submissions on 13 and 18 June 2024 about the police response to her report.
We have reviewed the handling of four complaints, namely that:
- Officers carried out insufficient investigation into the incident of 12 June 2024;
- An officer dismissed the applicant’s injuries;
- The police did not provide the applicant with access to medical care; and
- An officer behaved in an unprofessional manner by blaming the applicant for the incident during which she was assaulted.
Police Scotland's Decision
Police Scotland did not uphold any of the applicant’s complaints.
Our Findings
We have found that Police Scotland did not handle any of the applicant’s complaints to a reasonable standard.
Consequently, we have made four recommendations and a learning point to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of the complaints. In summary, we have recommended that Police Scotland carry out any further necessary enquiries into the complaints, taking account of our observations. Thereafter Police Scotland should provide the applicant with a further response which is well-reasoned and clearly explains the rationale for whichever conclusion is reached.
The learning point relates to seeking statements from possible witnesses.
Our recommendations and learning point should be implemented by Police Scotland within two months of the date of this report.
Police Bodies: Police Scotland