Complaints against West Midland Police officers up 10pc

Complaints against West Midlands Police officers increased by 10 per cent in the past year, new figures revealed today.

The force had 1,871 complaints about officers during the 2010-11 financial year compared to 1,704 in 2009-10.

Staffordshire Police complaints were up four per cent, the Independent Police Complaints Commission announced.

Nationally, there was a four per cent reduction in police complaint figures. The complaints total pertaining to the West Midlands force was 3,666, up from 3,022 the previous year.

IPCC Commissioner, Rachel Cerfontyne, said: "While we have seen a red-uction in the total number of complaints nationally, some of the figures suggest nota-ble levels of dissatisfaction."

In total, 33,099 complaint cases were recorded against police in England and Wales last year.

West Midlands Police spokesman Lee Page said: "The force takes the issue of complaints very seriously. This is demonstrated by the fact that we investigated a higher percentage of complaints than any of the other 42 police forces last year.

"These figures are from the last financial year – a time of significant change and budget reductions for West Midlands Police. As a force we have worked hard to improve the service we provide."