Complaint Handling Reviews

The Complaints

The complaints in this case arose after the police attended an incident and charged the applicant with vandalism.

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

1. Police Scotland shared the applicant’s details with social work when she requested specifically to an officer not to share her details;
2. Police Scotland took no further action against a named individual who drove at the applicant on two occasions;
3. Police Scotland too no further action against a named individual who physically assaulted the applicant;
4. Officers discriminated against the applicant by failing to take account of her autism, which they were told about;
5. Police Scotland failed to note the applicant’s counter allegation, despite the officers attending the incident advising that other officers would do so;
6. Police Scotland used mobile phone footage to negate the applicant’s counter allegation which was filmed 20-30 minutes after the incident;
7. the applicant did not receive an update from a sergeant, despite another sergeant informing her that she would receive one; and
8. the applicant requested a letter during a phone call with the Professional Standards Department for her to understand why her complaint was not being progressed, however she never received one.

Police Scotland's Decision

Police Scotland did not uphold any of the applicant’s complaints.

Our Findings

We have found that Police Scotland handled complaints 4 and 7 to a reasonable standard but not so complaints 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 8.

Consequently, we have made four recommendations and identified a learning point to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of the complaints. In summary, we have recommended that Police Scotland conducts further necessary and proportionate enquiries into complaints 1 and 3, revisits complaint 5 and reassesses complaint 6. Police Scotland should thereafter provide the applicant with a further response which clearly explains how the material information available informed the conclusions reached.

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

Police Bodies: Police Scotland