The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Mr X’s contact with the Council at one of its offices. This is because it is more appropriate for the Police to investigate Mr X’s complaint, and in any case there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by us investigating.
The complaint
Mr X states a Council staff member was verbally abusive and threatening towards him during a visit at one of its offices. Mr X said he feels intimidated and concerned for his safety if he needs to attend the Council.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide: there is another body better placed to consider this complaint, or there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation.
(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
Mr X stated a Council staff member was verbally abusive and threatening towards him.
The Council told Mr X it has investigated his concerns and dealt with it as a staff management issue. It also stated they were unable to inform Mr X of the outcome due to the confidential nature of this internal procedure.
We will not investigate this complaint. This is because the Police can investigate Mr X’s concerns, and in any case, we have no power to direct the Council on how to address internal discipline matters.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is more appropriate in this instance for Police to investigate the complaint and no worthwhile outcome is achievable.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman