Rise in complaints about police officers

The number of complaints made against police officers across the country soared by eight per cent in the past year, figures revealed today.

In West Mercia, the number of complaints has increased by 200 per cent over the past five years, compared with a national average of 97 per cent, including an increase of three per cent in the last year.

But, despite the national increase, complaints to both West Midlands and Staffordshire Police forces fell during 2008/09, the Independent Police Complaints Commission said today.

Complaints to West Midlands Police dropped by three per cent in the past year, while the number of complaints made to Staffordshire was slashed by 24 per cent during the same period.

The police watchdog said members of the public made 31,259 complaints against forces in England and Wales. It is an increase of 2,296 on the 2007/08 total of 28,963 and it means more than 600 complaints are made every week.

One in every four was for "neglect of duty", including officers being slow or ineffective when responding to calls, and one in five was for officers being rude. Around one complaint in 10 is upheld, the IPCC said.

IPCC chairman Nick Hardwick said the increase in complaints reflected growing confidence in the system and more consistent complaint recording standards. Nearly a third of complaints against West Mercia officers in 2008/09 were about "neglect of duty", compared with 25 per cent of Staffordshire's complaints and 18 per cent of complaints to West Midlands Police.