Nationally, the number of complaint cases recorded increased to a record level, and for the third consecutive year, meaning the situation at GMP mirrors the national picture.
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Deputy Chief Constable Winton Keenen said: “The figures that have been published by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) are testament to the significant work the force and the Office of the Police and Crime Commisioner (OPCC) have undertaken when it comes to dealing with complaints”.
In 2014/15, there were more than 37,000 complaints made, a 6 per cent overall increase on the year before.
Others included 3,700 complaints of “lack of fairness” and 23,400 for neglecting or failing in their duty.
If the complainant is not satisfied at this point, forces have been instructed to go a step further and record it as a complaint and then investigate the complaint in accordance with IPCC guidance. At the same time, the total number of appeals made by dissatisfied complainants increased by 7%.
THERE has been a big rise in the number of complaints against South Wales Police in the a year ago.
One of the most notable was whether forces investigated complaints formally, or used the more informal process.
The IPCC said a few forces investigated over 70 per cent of complaints; while others used local resolution in over 70 per cent of cases. The total number of appeals made by dissatisfied complainants was 92 – an 11% increase.
The figures showed that of the 31,333 allegations that were investigated, only 14% were upheld, with the remaining 86% rejected.
The number was an increase of 6% on the previous year and a jump of 62% over a decade.
Head of Professional Standards for West Yorkshire Police, Chief Superintendent Julie Sykes, said: “West Yorkshire Police continues to take complaints against officers and staff seriously, and has developed all aspects of the complaints system to raise the standards of the service provided and make it easier for members of the public to provide feedback”.
They also tell Sun FM it takes officers an average of 124 days to deal with these complaints.
The length of time taken to resolve complaints – averages ranged from 52 to 205 days.
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She welcomed Government proposals to simplify the system, saying that at present it “satisfies neither those who need it nor those who have to operate it”.
