Police watchdog targets time spent on the same complainants

Tuesday 02 May 2017

Jersey's Police watchdog has published its report for 2016, with a warning about the amount of time being taken up by the same people making regular complaints.

Figures show there were 25 complaints lodged about the Police last year, with around one third found to be unsubstantiated.

The 2016 statistics, which represented a slight rise from the previous year, saw complaints regarding harassment/threatening behaviour and/or abuse of authority most commonly reported, followed by excessive use of force.

Issued by the Jersey Police Complaints Authority, the report described the increase in the number of ‘regular complainants’ as “regrettable”.

“Some of [the complainants] would...be considered as exhibiting Unreasonable Complainant Conduct in other jurisdictions. The amount of time and effort (and public resources) taken in dealing with such complainants is at risk of being out of proportion. The Authority will continue to work with the States of Jersey Police in 2017 in agreeing an Unreasonable Complainant Conduct policy,” the report stated.

They added that some complaints had previously related to the length of time taken to complete an investigation, but added that these were, “…unavoidable when the matter is sub-judice” and that the Authority, “…had no particular concerns about delays in 2016."

The report also revealed that the Authority exceeded their 2016 budget of £38,200 by over £7,000 due to the, “…need to obtain significant legal advice (at a cost of £15,265) in relation to a particular matter."

The budget allocated to the Authority in 2016 was £38,200 (2015: £36,630). The actual costs incurred in 2016 amounted to £45,007 (2015: £31,283). The Authority exceeded the 2016 budget by £6,807 as a result of the need to obtain significant legal advice (at a cost of £15,265) in relation to a particular matter.

In their final remarks, the Authority said that their system for investigating complaints was both “efficient and accessible” but acknowledged “further opportunity for improvement".

“It is not possible to please everyone and there will inevitably be complainants who remain aggrieved following the conclusion of the investigation into their complaint. The Authority has witnessed an increasing number of complainants who are unsatisfied as to the conduct and findings of the investigation. However, the Authority remains committed to continuing in its role of monitoring investigations in an impartial, professional, thorough and fair manner.”