Review - Grampian Police
- Reference:
- PCCS-0807-00031-PF-GP
- Police Body:
- Grampian Police
- Date:
- 31 July 2008
- Download:
- Download Review - Grampian Police
The complainer raised numerous and extensive complaints with Grampian Police over a number of years. He asked that the PCCS review these complaints which were summarised into nine specific areas, some with sub-complaints. The complaints raised related to the actions of the force in relation to an email sent by the complainer to a number of individuals and an incident which occurred when the complainer visited a residential centre in his area. The visit resulted in the complainer's arrest and subsequent detention under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.
The Commissioner did not uphold five complaints as it was satisfied that the force had provided a satisfactory response to the complainer. It was found that Grampian Police had not had the opportunity to consider or respond to two sub-complaints and had not provided a sufficiently detailed response to the complainer in a further two sub-complaints. The PCCS recommended that the force contact the complainer and provide a clear response to all of these complaints.
A further complaint related to an allegation of an act or omission which constituted a crime and therefore did not fall within the PCCS remit. It was however noted that Grampian Police appeared to have failed to report these matters in accordance with the Lord Advocate Guidelines for reporting criminal matters, and that these complaints were referred for consideration to the Area Procurator Fiscal by the complainer and not the force. This was noted as a learning point for the force.
The PCCS upheld Complaint 8 and recommended that in future the force provide regular updates to complainers. In considering Complaint 9 the PCCS advised the complainer that he omitted to provide enough detail or clarification regarding the detail of this complaint. The PCCS was satisfied that the force had attempted to provide a detailed response to the complainer which, given the vague nature of the complaint, in the circumstances was commendable.