Police spend up to three months investigating “problematic and time consuming” complaints

Monday 05 March 2018

Jersey Police are spending up to three months investigating complaints made against them, with many being made by the same group of individuals.

96 days were spent on average following up each complaint made by members of the public last year.

The figures came in a report by the Jersey Police Complaints Authority (JPCA), the watchdog tasked with reviewing how the Police handle public grievances.

They revealed that 18 fresh complaints had been made in 2017, a reduction of almost a third from 2016.

The grievances relate to a mix of alleged issues ranging from lack of investigation to the non-returning of property, data protection breaches, excessive uses of force, and harassment.

Pictured: The report labelled some of the complaints as "problematic and time consuming."

But of those, just three were found to be substantiated with evidence – an allegation of excessive speed when driving, a ‘false media statement’ and not retaining body-worn camera footage. Four cases were carried forward to 2018, including one relating to use of force. 

While the JPCA said they were “pleased” about the reduction in complaints, which led to an expenditure reduction of 40% between 2016 and 2017 to £26,856, they expressed concern that several cases had been “problematic and time consuming.”

Over the past five years, nine individuals had made more than one complaint – one of whom had made five. 2017 saw three new repeat complaints.

While the Authority maintained that all new complaints would be dealt with in a “fair, impartial and independent manner”, it expressed concerns that the amount of “time, effort and resources” investigating some complaints was “disproportionate to the level of complaint."

The body said it would be working alongside the Police to address complaints that might otherwise be deemed “unreasonable” in other jurisdictions.

They also affirmed their commitment to continue tightening procedures. A new law governing the complaints process is expected to be drafted in the second quarter of this year, following input from the Department of Community and Constitutional Affairs, the JPCA, the Law Officer’s Department, the Police’s Standards Department, Honorary Police and Law Draftman’s Office.

In the report’s concluding remarks, JPCA commented: “In any complaints process it is not possible to please everyone and there will inevitably be complainants who remain aggrieved at the conclusion of the investigation into their complaint. The Authority notes there continues to be an increasing number of complainants who are unsatisfied with the handling and findings of the investigation into their complaint.”

They added: “The Authority considers that the system for investigating complaints has become more efficient and accessible. However, there remains room for improvement and it is hoped that once the Law has been amended there will be further opportunity for improvement in processes.”