Complaints Panel release quarterly report

Posted at 13:14 on 6th May 2025 in Announcements

Through the public's eyes: How the police manage complaints

The Independent Scrutiny of Police Complaints Panel have released their latest quarterly report. Made up of volunteers from diverse backgrounds across Avon and Somerset, the Panel play an important role in monitoring the way Avon and Somerset Police manage complaints made against them. The Panel does this by dip-sampling and scrutinising how police complaints are handled by Avon and Somerset Police’s Professional Standards Department. The role of the Professional Standards Department is to investigate complaints and misconduct allegations made against Avon and Somerset Police.

The latest quarterly report – March 2025 – is available to read

March’s report in numbers:

27 complaint cases relating to individual police behaviours scrutinised
25 felt to have been handled in a timely way
22 assessed as providing appropriate progress updates to the complainant
25 assessed as reaching the correct final outcome

This quarter, the panel chose to scrutinise a random dip-sample of closed police complaint cases relating to the individual behaviour of officers – such as unprofessional attitudes or impolite language. The panel highlighted the benefits of body-worn video being used to provide an accurate record of events, which often helped to resolve disputes and demonstrated the named officer(s) were not at fault. Observations were made also regarding the need for the police to be mindful when sending final letters to complainants that apologies are made where appropriate – an example was cited where a member of the public was wrongly stopped and searched and a complaint was made.

The independent oversight the Panel provides holds Avon and Somerset Police to account, with the aim to increase public confidence in the complaint process. It also helps to identify potential issues with how complaints are handled and suggest improvements to maintain fairness and justice. HMICFRS carried out a Police Integrity Inspection in February this year, this included an inspection of Avon and Somerset’s Professional Standards Department. The inspectorate was impressed by the work of the panel and felt it had a clear impact. The full report will be published in the summer.