Posted: Monday 6 June 2011
Making progress, but still work to be done by Northern Constabulary
Eighteen months after an audit revealed weaknesses in its complaints analysis and recording procedures, the Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland has acknowledged the progress made by Northern Constabulary based on his recommendations.
The force has implemented five out of his seven recommendations, but only partially completed one of the outstanding recommendations and had yet to start work on the other.
The outstanding actions relate to the force to carrying out an audit of procedures at all local police stations to ensure that they are complying with corporate standards for complaints analysis and recoding, and thereafter putting in place a rolling programme in place to ensure continuing compliance. The force has committed to completing the final two recommendations by September this year.
The Commissioner said: "My recommendations were intended to assist the force in improving its performance in managing and learning from complaints, so it is disappointing that they have not all been fully implemented. However, the follow up audit by my office did find evidence of improvement, especially in the area of training for officers and staff in relation to complaints. There were also indications of an emerging culture of learning from complaints within Northern Constabulary, which is encouraging."
In awarding the force an assurance level of "substantial", the second highest rating available, the Commissioner is saying that Northern Constabulary's complaints system is essentially sound, but there are some weaknesses that put some system objectives at risk.
Professor McNeill again: "There will be a time lag between the complaints that my office is currently reviewing and the impact of the training and other changes that have been made. But, over time, these improvements will contribute to increasing public confidence in the complaints system operated by Northern Constabulary. I will monitor the local audit paperwork over the next twelve months to satisfy myself that this rating accurately reflects the way that complaints are handled by Northern Constabulary."