Report – Police Scotland – PIRC/00541/22
The Complaints
The complaints in this case arose after the applicant stopped his motor vehicle to speak with police officers who were travelling in front of him in a marked police vehicle.
We have reviewed the handling of six complaints, namely that:
- Police Scotland failed to investigate the applicant’s report that an officer drove below the standard of a careful and competent driver and thus committed an offence under section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988;
- An officer abused their power by intentionally driving slowly when the applicant beeped his car horn at them;
- Officers abused their powers by requiring the applicant to provide his details and thereafter arresting him when he refused;
- Officers forced the applicant’s car door open, which they did not have a right to do;
- An officer did not caution the applicant when he was arrested; and
- Officers abused their powers by requiring the applicant’s wife to provide her details unlawfully.
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 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 to a reasonable standard but not so complaint 1.
Consequently, we have made a recommendation to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of complaint 1. In summary, we recommend that Police Scotland provide the applicant with a fresh response addressing the crux of the complaint.
Our recommendation should be implemented by Police Scotland within two months of the date of this report.
Police Bodies : Police Scotland