Police complaints up

New figures produced for South Yorkshire Police Authority show that between April 2006 and March 2007, 410 "complaint cases" were recorded - a 4.5 per cent rise on the previous year's total of 392.

They number of people making complaints also increased - rising to 479 from 451 the year before.

But Chief Constable Med Hughes said: "when viewing this increase in light of the total incidents attended by SYP in the same period, 527,939, it is clear that complaints generated are of a very small quantity in comparison to the total instances of police contact with the public.

"Unfortunately we can not compare with national trends, as the Independent Police Complaints Commission will not be publishing 2006/07 data until the autumn. Although, similar trends are evident across the North East region."

There was a rise in allegations of mishandling property and more complaints of oppressive conduct than last year.

But there were fewer allegations of neglect of duty, alleged breaches of the detention code and complaints of discriminatory behaviour.

Of the 410 complaint cases filed, 861 different allegations made within them have been resolved.

There were 41 allegations substantiated, 288 unsubstantiated, 41 withdrawn by complaints and four discontinued on the advice of the Independent Police Complains Commission (IPCC).

The force also had special dispensation not to investigate further in 113 cases, for a number of reasons including the complaint being lodged anonymously or more than 12 months after the incident.

Another 374 cases have been "resolved locally" - a speedy resolution to less serious complaints.

From the 41 complaints substantiated, involving 37 members of staff, 11 written warnings were given, "words of advice" were issued 34 times and one member of staff resigned.

The number of complaints from members of the public referred to the IPCC was 14 compared to 17 the previous year, plus another 21 resulting from officers or members of staff alleging police misconduct.

One of those investigated concerns the death of a member of the public, another involves a police chase and one relates to a dog bite.

Chf Con Hughes said: "Referral to the IPCC does not in itself indicate any degree of misconduct or fault, referral is prompted by the nature of the incident."

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