Police Investigations & Review Commissioner investigation and review reports, with annual complaint-review statistics.
Coverage: Scotland
Newest content date: 3 Sep 2026. This describes the content held here, not the date this page was opened.
Records written on 3 of the last 90 days; last write 10 Sep 2026.
Publisher's stated schedule: Periodic. That is the publisher's own description, not a measurement of this copy.
We have found that Police Scotland did not handle either of the applicant’s complaints to a reasonable standard. Consequently, we have identified a learning point to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland’s handling of the complaints. Our learning point...
We have found that Police Scotland handled the applicant’s complaint to a reasonable standard.
The complaints in this case arose after Child A was arrested on two separate occasions. The complaints were made by the applicant, who is a social work manager with professional responsibility for Child A, who was 16 years old at the time of the incidents...
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland reassess the material information across the complaints and undertake further enquiries.
2: we recommend that the re-assessment, further enquiries and subsequent updated response address (i) whether the decision to remove Child A’s clothing was informed by an assessment...
Police Scotland did not uphold any of the applicant’s complaints subject of our review.
The complaints in this case arose after the applicant reported her ex-partner and his parents to the police for threatening and abusive behaviour.
1: on 6 May 2024, an officer failed to record the applicant’s ex-partner’s aggressive behaviour as a crime; and
2: on 9 July 2024, the applicant’s report about her ex-partner’s behaviour was initially recorded as a crime, however this was later deemed by ‘Case Management’ to not be a crime....
The complaint in this case arose after the police attended an incident involving the applicant and his neighbour. The applicant and his parents have had ongoing issues with a neighbour living across the street. On one occasion, the neighbour was reported for...
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland update the Complaint Handling Form to reflect the changes in the subject officer for this complaint.
The complaint in this case arose after Police Scotland issued bail conditions to the applicant’s ex-husband, which disclosed her current address. The applicant is separated from her ex-husband, who was previously abusive towards her and two of her children....
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland conducts further enquiries into the applicant’s complaint and provides a further well-reasoned response.
The complaints in this case arose after witnesses reported that Applicant 1 had assaulted his wife, Applicant 2, in the street. The police arrested and charged Applicant 1 and conveyed him to police custody. The case against Applicant 1 was marked for no...
1: we recommend that Police Scotland undertake further enquiry, reassess the complaints and provide Applicant 1 with a further response.
The complaints in this case arose following a dispute about drainage between the applicant and the owner of a neighbouring business. The applicant reported that he was subjected to threatening and abusive behaviour by a tradesperson, and that a similar...
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland take account of our observations and consider the provision of learning.
The complaints in this case arose after the applicant’s stepdaughter was arrested.
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland conduct any further necessary enquiries, re-assess the available information in light of our observations and, thereafter, provide the...
The complaint in this case arose after police officers forced entry to the applicant’s property. This resulted in damage to the applicant’s front door. The applicant was not present when this occurred but arrived shortly afterwards. The police officers who...
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland conduct any further necessary and proportionate enquiry into the complaint, taking account of our observations.
The complaint in this case arose after the applicant reported a theft to the police. The applicant’s jacket, and its contents, were stolen whilst he was in a public house. The applicant viewed CCTV which showed a female picking up his jacket and leaving the...
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland conducts further necessary and proportionate enquiries into complaint 1, reassesses complaint 2 and provides a further response to all...
The complaint in this case arose after the applicant contacted his local police force to report that he had been a victim of harassment.
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland re-categorise the complaint and record a subject officer, conduct any further necessary enquiries and re-assess the available information...
The complaint in this case arose after the applicant’s phone was seized as a production in a criminal investigation in 2024. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) decided not to instigate court proceedings against the applicant on 3 September...
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland conduct further necessary and proportionate enquiries into both complaints and provides the applicant with a further response.
The complaints in this case arose after the applicant reported being subjected to anti-social behaviour. The applicant is vulnerable and has made a number of reports to Police Scotland since 2019 regarding alleged threatening and abusive behaviour by his...
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland split complaint 1 and record it as two separate complaints about the police; re-categorise complaints 1 and 2; and record and respond to...
The complaint in this case arose from the applicant’s report of fraud. The applicant’s late mother resided in a regulated care home for a period. The care home did not make an application for government funded Free Personal and Nursing Care (FPNC). The...
1: we recommend that Police Scotland undertake any necessary further enquiries and re-assess the complaint, taking account of our observations.
The complaints in this case arose after the applicant was arrested, interviewed and charged with an offence under section 39(1) of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010. A Standard Prosecution Report was submitted to the Crown Office and...
1: we have recommended that: in relation to complaints 1, 2, 3 and 4, Police Scotland revisit the complaints and provide the applicant with further well-reasoned responses; and in...
We have found that Police Scotland handled the applicant’s complaints to a reasonable standard.
The complaint in this case arose after the applicant was notified by a solicitor that he was being summoned to court for an alleged theft and assault offence. We have reviewed the handling of one complaint, namely that:
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland record the applicant’s complaint as a relevant complaint about the police, engage with the applicant, and provide him with a response.
The complaints in this case arose after the applicant reported an incident to Police Scotland concerning a neighbour’s threatening and antisocial behaviour towards him. This followed a series of previous incidents and reports to the police.
The complaints in this case arose following an interaction between the applicant and an officer at a local garage.
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland conduct any further necessary enquiries and reassess all of the available information in light of our observations.
The complaint in this case arose after the applicant’s partner was arrested for a driving offence. We have reviewed the handling of a single complaint, namely that:
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland conduct any necessary and proportionate enquiry and respond to the complaint.
The complaint in this case arose after the applicant reported domestic related offences to the police. The applicant was dissatisfied that an Inspector took no further action after she reported domestic related incidents to her concerning her ex-partner. The...
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland conducts further necessary and proportionate enquiries into complaint 1, reassesses complaints 2, 3 and 4.
The applicant’s mother, Mrs A, had work carried out in her garden. The complaints in this case arose after the applicant reported to the police that the men who conducted the work had committed a crime.
The complaints in this case arose after the applicant was involved in a road traffic collision. The applicant was in her car on a side access road, waiting to exit left at a junction onto the public road. Constables A and B were in a police van parked on the...
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland reassess the applicant’s complaint, conduct any necessary further enquiry, and provide her with a response that is well-reasoned and...
The complaint in this case arose after the applicant raised concern with Police Scotland about the death of his brother, a vulnerable adult, while he was under the guardianship of a local authority. We have reviewed the handling of a single complaint, namely...
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland conduct any further necessary and proportionate enquiries and thereafter provide the applicant with a further well-reasoned response to...
The complaints in this case arose after the applicant was issued with a Recorded Police Warning in January 2025, and after a separate incident which took place on a bus in March 2025, whereby a bus driver asked the applicant to remove her hijab so that he...
1: the police gave the applicant insufficient updates;
2: a service advisor was dismissive and rude to the applicant;
The applicant and his wife had leased a property and had been involved in an ongoing dispute regarding their tenancy, and were being threatened with eviction. In October 2023, the applicant and his wife were evicted and contacted the police for assistance....
1: on 3 October 2023, attending officers did not intervene to prevent an unlawful eviction;
2: officers did not arrange for the applicant’s wife to receive medical attention;
The complaints in this case arose after the police took possession of the applicant’s firearms. The applicant had been involved in a neighbour dispute, during which he surrendered to police his guns and certificates that allowed him to possess his weapons. He...
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland re-assess the available information in relation to complaint 2 and provide the applicant with a further response.
The complaint in this case arose after the applicant’s wife (Mrs A) reported that her purse had been stolen.
The complaints in this case arose after the police attended an incident and charged the applicant with vandalism.
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland conducts further necessary and proportionate enquiries into complaints 1 and 3, revisits complaint 5 and reassesses complaint 6.
The complaints in this case arose from an altercation between the applicant and an individual who had blocked his driveway. Police officers attended which led to the applicant’s arrest. He was taken into police custody and was later charged and released....
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland re-assess the available information, taking account of our observations.
The complaint in this case arose complaints in this case arose after the applicant was arrested. We have reviewed the handling of four complaints, namely that:
1: we have recommended Police Scotland carry out further enquiry and provide the applicant with a further response.
2: We have also recommended complaints 3 and 4 are now recorded separately Our recommendations and learning points should be implemented by Police Scotland within two months of the...
The complaint in this case arose after the applicant reported an allegation of fraud about a business. The applicant operates an agricultural business. The applicant raised civil court proceedings against another company for breach of contract resulting in...
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland take account of our observations and consider the provision of learning.
The complaints in this case arose after the applicant’s interactions with the police following domestic abuse incidents. The applicant was in an abusive relationship which resulted in her interacting with Police Scotland on a number of occasions. The...
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland records four separate complaints and provides the applicant with a further letter of response that includes an apology, and outlines any...
The complaints in this case arose after the applicant was convicted with acting in a threatening and abusive manner towards his ex-partner after she had locked him out of the shared family home. The applicant was made subject of an 18-month non-harassment...
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland conduct further enquiries, reassess the evidence available and provide the applicant with a fresh response in respect of these complaints.
The complaints in this case arose after the applicant’s interactions with the police following domestic abuse incidents. The applicant was in an abusive relationship which resulted in her interacting with Police Scotland on a number of occasions. The...
1: between 2017 and 2023, the applicant is dissatisfied with the overall police response in respect of domestic abuse allegations she reported; and
2: the length of time to conclude the applicant’s complaint was excessive. Police Scotland’s Decision Police Scotland upheld both of the applicant’s complaints.
The complaint in this case arose after the applicant reported to British Transport Police (BTP) that she had been assaulted by a male in a train station. We have reviewed the handling of two complaints, namely that:
1: we have recommended that the BTP carry out further enquiry and provide the applicant with a further response to complaint 1.
The complaints in this case arose after the applicant contacted Police Scotland to report an alleged assault.
The complaints in this case arose after the applicant made reports to Police Scotland about repeated incidents at his property, involving his neighbour and other individuals, over several years. These included an allegation of wilful fire‑raising on his...
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland contact the applicant about complaint 2.
The complaints in this case arose after the police attended the scene of a road traffic collision. The applicant was involved in a road traffic collision with a tanker. Officers attended while the applicant was being seen to by paramedics. The driver of the...
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland reassess complaints 1 and 2, and conduct further necessary and proportionate enquiries into complaint 3.
The complaint in this case arose after various interactions the applicant had with the police. In 2021, the applicant was recorded on Police Scotland’s system as being responsible for two thefts. In 2024, the applicant made various reports to the police which...
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland reassess complaint 5 and provide the applicant with a further response which clearly explains how the material information available...
The complaint in this case arose after the applicant contacted Police Scotland to report what he believed to be crimes of misconduct in public office and conspiracy on the part of named organisations. We have reviewed the handling of a single complaint,...
1: Police Scotland made false statements to the applicant, by informing him that his report about the conduct of the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission and the Ethical Standards...
The complaints in this case arose after the applicant was arrested on suspicion that he had committed an offence. The applicant has a medical condition and requires access to medical equipment throughout the day.
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland issue a further response to complaint 1 and carry out some further enquiries into complaint 2.
The complaints in this case arose after the applicant was reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) for road traffic offences. We have reviewed the handling of four complaints, namely that:
1: we recommend that Police Scotland undertake further enquiry, reassess the complaints and provide the applicant with a further response.
The complaint in this case arose after the applicant was arrested under Section 38(1) of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 and held in police custody. The applicant informed the custody officer that he had undergone sinus surgery the day...
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland reassess all four complaints and provide the applicant with a well-reasoned further response which clearly explains how the information...
The complaint in this case arose after the applicant was arrested and charged under Section 38 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010. The applicant had previously reported allegations of threatening conduct against his ex-partner’s father,...
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland record a different subject officer for complaint 4, and in line with our observations, reassess complaint 1.
The complaints in this case arose after the applicant contacted Police Scotland to report ongoing issues with his neighbours and that he had received anonymous letters which he considered to be hate mail.
The complaints in this case arose after the applicant was cautioned and charged with being a pedestrian on the motorway contrary to the Motorways Traffic (Scotland) Regulations 1995 . We have reviewed the handling of five complaints, namely that:
1: we recommend that Police Scotland undertake further enquiry, reassess the complaints and provide the applicant with a further response.
The complaint in this case arose after the police seized weapons and ammunition belonging to the applicant. We have reviewed the handling of six complaints, namely that: 1. On or around 30 January 2023, an officer disclosed confidential information about the...
1: On or around 30 January 2023, an officer disclosed confidential information about the applicant’s arrest.
2: On or prior to 3 February 2023, an officer disclosed where the applicant stored his airsoft weapons.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 0 |
| 2021/22 | 271 |
| 2022/23 | 256 |
| 2023/24 | 256 |
| 2024/25 | 228 |
The chart shows annual complaint-review volumes in the loaded PIRC statistics.
| Period | Complaints received | Complaints reviewed | Recommendations made | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 228 | 554 | 182 | Original source ↗ |
| 2023/24 | 256 | 1,346 | 265 | Original source ↗ |
| 2022/23 | 256 | 953 | 229 | Original source ↗ |
| 2021/22 | 271 | 817 | 264 | Original source ↗ |
| 2020/21 | 0 | 880 | 270 | Original source ↗ |