To ask whether anyone has made a complaint about police and had a positive outcome?

[Chinchinatti]

I've made a complaint against police and bodycams were not turned on for the first half of the encounter (I was not aware of this until I made the complaint). It's now with the Professional Standards something or another but they're very very slow to act. Last I heard was two weeks ago and I emailed yesterday and was informed this morning that I will receive an update every 28 days. Is this bloody acceptable?

My gut instinct is that they'll stick together and I'll be earmarked as a trouble maker.

So whoever voted that I'm BU, are you willing to put your money where your mouth is and tell me why?

Without knowing what happened - and therefore the scope of any investigation - it’s hard to determine if that’s acceptable or not.

I would imagine it is. Things take time.

What were you complaint about, something serious like being stabbed or did one of them upset you by calling you ‘love’ or something similar.

What were you complaint about, something serious like being stabbed or did one of them upset you by calling you ‘love’ or something similar.

Very patronising and not helpful at all.

I won't go into details, but it was nothing criminal on anyone's behalf.

I agree! I had an incident caused by ex partner 3 weeks ago the police searched my house and wouldn't let me back until the next day... I emailed the officer a week after asking for an update regarding my house, did they take anything, am i allowed to move anything. The officer emailed me back the next morning saying I have forwarded your message onto the lead detective working on this case, he will be in touch soon.... 2 weeks later and he's not been in touch 😂

Then I doubt anyone can offer any advice if you’re not going to explain the circumstances.

It would help if you added some context to this. What was the reason for police involvement? Is the complaint because you are unhappy about the outcome of their attendance? Why would BWV had made a difference.......?

Irrespective, complaints take time with off duties, other police work etc. Also, what do you want your complaint to achieve? Did the police actually do something wrong or do you not agree with the outcome?

I was searched for no reason and very inappropriately ( sexually) and spoken to terribly and was accused of being drunk (hadn't drank anything) and put on the floor and told i was being aggressive ( I wasnt) for stepping in when a police officer was using excessive force on a homeless person, I'm 5ft 2 and weigh under 7 stone this was a large 6ft 2 male officer, I wasn't arrested ... yes they are slow but an investigation was made and I did get a formal apology and action was taken against the officer .. However I was with a freind who secretly filmed the encounter and we had contacted our solicitor who put A LOT of pressure on them , this happened in London around 6 years ago now , I live in the Midlands and I'm from a privileged background, i would never have believed the police were capable of this and it has made me lose some faith in them and I do think that they would have have tried to sweep it away if we didn't have the means pursue it and hadn't threaten to publish the video , unfortunately I do believe they do try and protect the few officers that do perform misconduct ... X

It is of concern that you are worried about making the complaint. Everyone should be accountable for their actions and if someone has left you feeling that you have not received a satisfactory service you should have the right to have the matter looked into. I think the fact that these are called complaints is done to intimidate people out of taking things up with management or out of office regulatory bodies.

I suspect they will close ranks against you and the most you will get is a worthless written apology.

I have gone through the Police complaints process and it was long and drawn out. I was nearly fobbed off early on by a very pleasant Inspector. When his report came out it was a joke. I refused to accept the result and complained about his standard of investigation
I then struck gold and had a fantastic person assigned It still took months. The parts of my complaint that could be proved were upheld. Officers involved were disciplined. I also had to make a complaint about the Chief Constable and his complete lack of manners and offensive behaviour and he was investigated and forced to apologise

Keep notes, know what you want to achieve. Keep calm remain polite and ask for explanations if you don’t understand. It does take time.

YANBU I made an official complaint many years ago. The police involved all lied their way out of it - denied even being in the area, lying bastards.

they will close ranks against you

lying bastards

i would never have believed the police were capable of this......and it has made me lose some faith in them

done to intimidate people

Some of you talk as if Ashes to Ashes was a documentary. Also you do realise that the police are 120,000 individuals not one homogeneous group?

Now @Avenueofcherryblossom don't get actual factual information get in the way of some frothing and 'aren't X all bastards/liars/overpaid' posts. Logic doesnt work for that although with the fact that the NHS/social care/teacher bashing threads are dwindling lm not surprised the emergency services haven't had one yet!

Also you do realise that the police are 120,000 individuals not one homogeneous group?

Don't tell us. Tell the police.

28 day updates is what victims of crime receive, so the Professional Standards Department are working in line with that.

Hard to say without knowing but always try and film / document if you can and esp if you can get their badge number. I don't trust the police as far as I could pick up and throw a police car.

But to answer your question short of a murder I wouldn't seek police help for anything so nope.

I suspect they will close ranks against you and the most you will get is a worthless written apology

Sometimes not even that.

It doesn’t matter if they’re 120,000 individuals. They have a Code of Conduct and if they are not complying with that they should be investigated. We need to be able to trust our officers, and the few bad ones help tarnish the reputation of they or even as a whole. People need to believe the police with treat them fairly and impartially or it undermines public trust in their ability to uphold the law.

The only case I was involved with involved an elderly couple whose house was raided (battering rams, dogs, armed police in reserve, the full works) in error. They were completely traumatised as their house was turned over.
A complaint was made of course but it was a complete waste of time. They closed ranks, told lies and filled in paperwork retrospectively to fit their lies. The complainants just let it go in the end.

LellyMcKelly
Well yes, exactly, although I sense that you are trying to argue against me in some way.

My point is that there is not a police service hive mind, in the same way there is not a mumsnet hive mind so all this talk of they and them about tens of thousands of people is ridiculous. It is also ‘othering’. Police officers are among the mums who used to drop off and pick up reception children, dads who coach junior football teams, young women dressed up for a night out with their friends, couples walking their dog round the local park.

I agree that among all those ordinary people trying to their best there are inevitably a few bad ones. There are also a few bad doctors, a few bad shop assistants, hairdressers, accountants etc etc, it’s a fact of life.

It's not about a few bad apples though. Police forces are institutionally wired to protect the reputation of the force itself.
To be fair it's not just police forces. It is any institution from a local council to the church of England. Their inherent tendency is to protect the institution itself.