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.
The complaints in this case arose after officers attended the applicant’s home, on two separate occasions, with a warrant for a previous tenant.
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland conducts any necessary and proportionate further enquiries into the complaints.
The complaint in this case arose after the applicant made reports about a serving police officer to Police Scotland spreading information about her son’s conviction. The applicant contacted 101 to report her concerns and was directed to make a complaint about...
The complaints in this case arose after the applicant contacted Police Scotland to report issues with youths in his area.
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland conduct any further necessary enquiries and, thereafter, reassess the available information in light of our observations and issue the...
The complaint in this case arose after the applicant’s vehicle was stopped by police officers :
1: we recommended that Police Scotland carry out further enquiries, re-assess the available information and issue the applicant with a further response which clearly explains the...
The complaint in this case arose after the applicant reported the theft of a large sum of money from his home .
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland carry out any necessary, further enquiries and issue the applicant with a fresh response, which clearly explains the determination reached.
The complaint in this case arose after the applicant contacted Police Scotland to report what he believed to be a hate crime. Police Scotland advised the applicant that the circumstances did not amount to criminality, and that the incident would not be...
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland reassess the information available and, thereafter, provide the applicant with a further response which takes account of our observations...
The complaints in this case arose after the applicant was arrested in relation to a domestic incident at his home address.
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland conduct all necessary further enquiries, re-assess the available information and taking account of our observations, issue the applicant...
The complaints in this case arose after the applicant reported her neighbour to the police on two separate occasions for racially aggravated anti-social behaviour. No crime was established on each occasion following officers’ attendance. We have reviewed the...
The complaints in this case arose after the applicant was charged by the police for stalking her ex partners current partner. An officer issued the applicant with a Recorded Police Warning which the applicant appealed. The case was thereafter reported to the...
1: we recommend Police Scotland reassess complaint 1 and provide a further response letter to the applicant, which clearly explains whether the complaint is upheld/not upheld,...
The complaints in this case arose following the applicant’s report of her husband subjecting her to domestic abuse, assault and rape between August 2019 and August 2022. We have reviewed the handling of seven complaints, namely:
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 reported to the police a fraud/theft committed against him by his brother. The police closed the applicant’s report as “no crime”. We have reviewed the handling of a single complaint, namely that:
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland reassess the available information, conducts any further and necessary proportionate enquiries in relation to this complaint and provides...
The complaint in this case arose after the applicant reported an assault. We have reviewed the handling of two complaints, namely that:
The complaints in this case arose following an incident involving the applicant and a visitor to his neighbour’s property, which culminated in the applicant being issued with a Recorded Police Warning.
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland reassess the complaint and provide the applicant with a fresh adequately reasoned response.
The complaint in this case arose after the police asked the applicant to remove his clothing, to be seized, following the unexplained death of his sister’s partner. The applicant’s sister discovered the body of her partner at his home address. The police...
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland conducts further necessary and proportionate enquiries into the complaint.
The complaints in this case arose after the police reported the applicant to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service for an alleged drug driving offence.
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland conducts any necessary and proportionate further enquiries into the complaints.
The complaint in this case arose after the applicant reported her daughter as missing to Police Scotland on several occasions.
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland conduct further proportionate enquiries and, thereafter, reassess the available information in light of our observations and issue the...
The complaint in this case arose after the applicant was subject of a number of criminal investigations. Between 2019 and 2023, the police seized several items belonging to the applicant as productions. On one occasion, police officers entered the applicant’s...
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland conduct further necessary and proportionate enquiries into complaint 2 and reassess the material information available.
The complaints in this case arose following an encounter between two British Transport Police officers and the applicant at a train station.
1: we have recommended that British Transport Police conducts any necessary and proportionate further enquiries into the complaint.
The complaints in this case arose from the police response to incidents reported as part of a neighbour dispute. The applicant and his neighbours made various reports about each other to the police over several years. The local authority anti-social behaviour...
The complaints in this case arose after the applicant was involved in a road traffic collision.
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland reassess the available information and undertake further necessary enquiries in line with our observations.
The complaint in this case arose after the applicant reported a child welfare concern to the police, and at a later date, reported a criminal allegation to the police. The applicant rented a property to a work colleague, who had a young child. The applicant...
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland conduct further necessary and proportionate enquiries in relation to both complaints.
The complaints in this case arose after nine male police officers forced entry to the entry through her locked front door to execute a drug search warrant. The applicant was not charged with any offence following the search . We have reviewed the handling of...
The complaint in this case arose after police officers responded to a welfare concern for the applicant. Officers located the applicant driving and pull him over. Additional officers attended the scene and tried to convince the applicant to attend an...
1: we have recommended for Police Scotland to conduct further necessary and proportionate enquiries into complaint 2.
The complaints in this case arose after the applicant’s vehicle was uplifted by Police Scotland and he was issued with a Section 165 Road Traffic Act 1988 seizure notice.
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland reassess the available information and conduct any proportionate enquiries in light of our observations.
The complaints in this case arose after the applicant was arrested and taken to police custody on two separate occasions.
1: we have recommended that Police Scotland conduct any further necessary and proportionate enquiries, reassess the available information in light of our observations and,...
The complaints in this case arose after the applicant contacted Police Scotland to report a road traffic collision. Officers attended the applicant’s home address in relation to the incident. Following further enquiries, the officers concluded that no...
The complaint in this case arose after the applicant reported a child safety concern to the police. The applicant and his ex-partner have one child together. The applicant contacted the police to report that his child had disclosed that his mother had left...
The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner undertook two separate investigations in relation to the police use of firearms involving two XL Bully dogs. PIRC is aware that both incidents occurred during a period of heightened public interest and as the...
1: Dog Handlers on mobile patrol, carry and have immediate access to specialist equipment within their vehicles to immediately deploy in such circumstances, to avoid any unnecessary...
2: Police Scotland consider drafting a protocol that establishes procedures for contacting a veterinary surgeon or other appropriate authority to attend such incidents and provide...
On Wednesday 24 July 2024, Authorised Firearms Officers (AFOs) of Police Scotland discharged Police issue firearms to humanely dispatch a seriously injured deer which had been struck by a vehicle.
1: Police Scotland should issue guidance to all Initial Tactical Firearms Commanders reminding them of the requirement in response to firearms incidents to consult with a Firearms...
2: Police Scotland should issue guidance to all Operational Firearms Commanders to remind them that in response to ongoing forearms incidents they should be located where they are...
On Wednesday 5 April 2023, a Specially Trained Officer (STO) of Police Scotland discharged a Taser device at a child, then aged 15, whilst he was holding a knife to his own throat.
On Wednesday 22 March 2023, a Specially Trained Officer (STO) of Police Scotland discharged a Taser device at a child, then aged 11, whilst he was threatening police officers with a knife.
| 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 ↗ |