Report – Police Scotland – PIRC/00688/25
The Complaints
The complaints in this case arose after the police attended the scene of a road traffic collision. The applicant was involved in a road traffic collision with a tanker. Officers attended while the applicant was being seen to by paramedics. The driver of the tanker informed one of the officers that he did not see the applicant at the crossroads because of the fog. The paramedics informed one of the officers that the applicant had not received any significant injuries, but would be taken to the hospital due to her complaining of chest pains. The applicant was taken to the hospital for further assessment. We have reviewed the handling of three complaints, namely that:
officers carried out an insufficient investigation at the scene of a road traffic collision;
the applicant is dissatisfied that the police did not charge the other driver with any offence; and
an officer asked the applicant’s family member to remain at the scene to allow her vehicle to be uplifted.
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 three recommendations to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of the complaints. In summary, we have recommended that Police Scotland reassess complaints 1 and 2, and conduct further necessary and proportionate enquiries into complaint 3. Thereafter, the applicant should be issued with a further response that explains whether each complaint is upheld/not upheld and the rationale for the determinations reached.
Our recommendations should be implemented by Police Scotland within two months of the date of this report.
Policing Bodies: Police Scotland