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| Complaints against police reach a record high | Complaints against police reach a record high |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The number of complaints made against police in England and Wales has reached a record high. | The number of complaints made against police in England and Wales has reached a record high. |
| There were 34,863 cases involving complaints in 2013-14, figures from the Independent Police Complaints Commission show. | There were 34,863 cases involving complaints in 2013-14, figures from the Independent Police Complaints Commission show. |
| The figures show a 15% increase on the previous year - and the highest since the IPCC was established in 2004. | The figures show a 15% increase on the previous year - and the highest since the IPCC was established in 2004. |
| The IPCC said the rise was clear in the majority of police forces. | The IPCC said the rise was clear in the majority of police forces. |
| The highest number of complaints were regarding police neglect or failure in duty, followed by complaints about police being rude or intolerant. | The highest number of complaints were regarding police neglect or failure in duty, followed by complaints about police being rude or intolerant. |
| The largest percentage increase in complaint cases year-on-year was recorded by Northumbria Police, which went from 401 complaints to 794, a rise of 98%. | The largest percentage increase in complaint cases year-on-year was recorded by Northumbria Police, which went from 401 complaints to 794, a rise of 98%. |
| The next biggest rise was recorded by City of London Police, where complaints rose 90% from 123 to 234 between 2012-13 and 2013-14. | The next biggest rise was recorded by City of London Police, where complaints rose 90% from 123 to 234 between 2012-13 and 2013-14. |
| Direction and control | |
| More than one allegation can be included in a complaint "case" and the police watchdog said some of the increase was due to the broadening of the definition of a complaint. | More than one allegation can be included in a complaint "case" and the police watchdog said some of the increase was due to the broadening of the definition of a complaint. |
| New complaint categories regarding the direction and control of the police were introduced in 2013-2014. | |
| Dame Anne Owers, who chairs the IPCC, said the figures showed police forces were "not handling complaints sufficiently well". | |
| She said the IPCC upheld 49% of appeals from people whose complaints were not even recorded in the first place as well as 44% of appeals from those whose complaints had been investigated by the local force. | |
| "As we have said many times, this reflects a complaints system which is complex, bureaucratic and over-focused on blame," she said. | |
| Since 2013, forces have dealt with some of their own appeals. | |
| Dame Anne said: "The IPCC has always been concerned about this, as we consider that it is an in-force review, not an independent appeal. | |
| "These figures add to that concern. It is clear that forces uphold a much lower proportion of appeals than the IPCC." |