Complaint Handling Reviews

The Complaints

The complaints in this case arose after the applicant was reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) for road traffic offences. We have reviewed the handling of four complaints, namely that: 

1. the applicant was refused access to a toilet, resulting in her urinating herself in front of officers and a doctor;
2. the applicant was not given clothing to wear to cover her modesty after she urinated herself whilst in police custody;
3. staff did not collect the applicant’s prescription whilst she was in custody, resulting in her being violently sick; and
4. the applicant submitted a complaint to a local Police Office that was not recorded, resulting in the CCTV evidence being lost.

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 2 to a reasonable standard, but not so complaints 1, 3 and 4. 

Consequently, we have made three recommendations and identified a learning point to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of these complaints. In summary, we recommend that Police Scotland undertake further enquiry, reassess the complaints and provide the applicant with a further response. 

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

Police Bodies: Police Scotland