Over 1000 complaints made against Northumbria Police

The IPCC – which is an independent arbiter of disputes in police cases – said that it had upheld 39 per cent of appeals against the force.

Complaints against police have reached record levels, figures show.

The total number of complaints has risen by six per cent in the previous year and 62 per cent in the last decade.

A few forces investigated more than 70 of complaints while others used local resolution in over 70 per cent of cases. That was a one per cent decrease in the number the force recorded from the year before.

In Thames Valley, there were 1,305 complaints in total, a 25% increase on the year before.

Dame Anne criticised the complaints structure.

As the number of complaints made increases, there remain marked differences in the way police forces across England and Wales handle complaints – and there are more people dissatisfied with the way their complaint has been handled.

The figures for England and Wales show a complaints system that is both over-complex and inconsistent, and is clearly failing to satisfy a significant number of complainants.

The IPCC investigates allegations and oversees inquiries made by police forces into their own conduct.

“However, the underlying problem is the system itself”.

When allegations were compared against staff numbers, Lincolnshire had the highest rate with 580 per 1,000 employees. Of these, 31,333 allegations were investigated, of which 14% or around 4,386 were upheld.

Cumbria was the least complained about force with 497 complaints.

It is believed child sexual exploitation sex scandal and the police force’s handling of the Hillsborough disaster may be to blame for numerous complaints.

“We take complaints very seriously and will always listen to and take heed of those who come forward to report any dissatisfaction”.