Report - Police Scotland - PIRC/00565/20
The Complaints
The complaints in this case arose following Police Scotland’s engagement with the applicant following his allegations of coercive control and domestic abuse by his ex-partner, he himself having been the subject of and having faced criminal charges following allegations of a similar nature by his ex-partner.
We have reviewed the handling of six complaints, namely that:
Police Scotland failed to sufficiently investigate the applicant’s reports of coercive control and domestic abuse by his ex-partner;
Police Scotland have failed to explain why officers visited and spoke to the applicant’s mother twice;
Police Scotland have discriminated against the applicant by treating him differently in relation to reports of domestic incidents between him and his ex-partner due to his gender;
Having arrested the applicant, officers placed him at increased risk of Covid-19 infection by failing to wear appropriate PPE or to provide him with appropriate PPE during transport to and processing within a Police Scotland custody suite;
An officer asked inappropriate questions and did not follow correct processes and procedures when interviewing the applicant’s children;
Officers stopped the applicant without explanation as to the reason he was stopped; and
An officer laughed towards the applicant when he was driving his motor vehicle.
Police Scotland’s Decision
Police Scotland upheld complaint 4 but did not uphold complaints 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7.
Our Findings
We have found that Police Scotland handled complaints 2, 4, 5, and 7 to a reasonable standard but not so complaints 1, 3 and 6.
Consequently, we have made three 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 reassess the evidence available and provide the applicant with a fresh response in respect of complaints 1, 3 and 6.
We have also identified a learning point to address a shortcoming in the style of Police Scotland’s letter of response. In summary, we have highlighted the importance of identifying individual officers when responding to complaints.
Our recommendations and learning point should be implemented by Police Scotland within two months of the date of this report.