Huge rise in complaints against Hampshire Police (From Daily Echo)
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Complaints against Hampshire Police up by 26 per cent
6:23am Wednesday 24th October 2012 in News
By Tara Russell, News Reporter
Huge rise in complaints against Hampshire Police
The number of complaints against Hampshire Constabulary increased by 171 this year.
And the 26 per cent rise was the biggest percentage increase in complaints out of the 44 police forces in the country.
Figures released today in the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) annual report show the force received 648 complaints in 2010/2011 but 819 in 2011/2012.
There were a total number of 1,651 allegations made against police officers and staff in the force which was slightly below last year's total of 1,697.
The IPCC received 155 appeals from members of the public in total about Hampshire Constabulary's handling of their complaints- 28 about the force not recording a complaint at all.
The body completed 113 appeals against the force upholding 33 of them- which accounts for 29 per cent- and is fewer than the 38 per cent national result for upheld appeals.
There were 249 allegations recorded per 1,000 employees in the force- more than the national average of 213 allegations.
It comes as nationally the IPCC is dealing with an increasing number of appeals from people unhappy with the way their complaints have been handled by forces.
Detective Superintendent Colin Smith, head of the force's Professional Standards Department, encouraged people dissatisfied with the service to speak to them directly saying “identifying lessons to learn is part of the process of improving our service.”
He said: “The increase in the number of complaints this year comes following a 43 per cent drop in the previous year which balances out our position.”
He added: “It is important for us that all complaints are fairly and accurately recorded and effectively resolved so I'm pleased to see that the vast majority of appeals to the IPCC are not upheld which demonstrates our commitment to getting it right first time.”
Comments(24)
bigal007
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8:21am Wed 24 Oct 12
Taskforce 141
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8:24am Wed 24 Oct 12
gazdance
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8:34am Wed 24 Oct 12
We have a real compensation and complaint culture developing in this country. People seek to blame others yet take very little personal responsibility for their actions and the consequences of them.
If the police have done something genuinely wrong, or totally failed to investigate a crime then a complaint is fully justified. If, however, these complaints arise because someone simply doesn't like that they were asked or told by a police officer to stop doing something that they ought not to be doing in the first place, then it's just tough. Don't cause problems and the police will leave you alone. Simple!
No surprise that the Echo seized on that headline though.
sotonwinch09
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9:03am Wed 24 Oct 12
Brite Spark
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9:09am Wed 24 Oct 12
arthur dalyrimple
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9:13am Wed 24 Oct 12
sotonwinch09
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9:25am Wed 24 Oct 12
huckit P
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9:43am Wed 24 Oct 12
It could be that some of the problems stem from Plastic Policemen because you really have to look hard (from the front) to see if you are dealing with a real police officer or a poorly trained wannabee. Admittedly from the back it is easier, but that's not the bit you usually see.
sotonwinch09
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9:49am Wed 24 Oct 12
huckit P wrote:By plastic policemen I presume you are referring to special constables? If so then they go through the same basic training as a full time officer (at no cost to the tax payer). They would not take on a serious case by themselves if they didn't have the training or competence. At least they are contributing to society and doing something to keep the community safe. This is half the problem of this complaint culture. Everyone expects something to be done for them and will not do it themselves.
So a drop of 43% the previous year balances the increase. What dipstick thought of that as a defence?
It could be that some of the problems stem from Plastic Policemen because you really have to look hard (from the front) to see if you are dealing with a real police officer or a poorly trained wannabee. Admittedly from the back it is easier, but that's not the bit you usually see.
Nicole23
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10:08am Wed 24 Oct 12
How can a criminal have rights? What about the victim? Where are their rights?
phil maccavity
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10:28am Wed 24 Oct 12
I am not saying they are perfect but they are, at the very least, subject to public scrutiny.
Niel
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10:33am Wed 24 Oct 12
arthur dalyrimple wrote:Unlikely, considering the pogrom's enacted against them by nu-labia.
there is but one very big problem in this country , FREEMASONRY.
More likely the **** family members now 'in the job' throwing their weight around, or abusing their posistion of public trust to protect their 'family' interests or persue vendetta's...
Niel
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10:34am Wed 24 Oct 12
Niel
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10:34am Wed 24 Oct 12
Linesman
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10:46am Wed 24 Oct 12
I agree with phil maccavity's post @ 10:28, our police are the best that I have come across in my travels, but that does not mean that there is not room for improvement here.
Inform Al
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12:22pm Wed 24 Oct 12
Hdg end mo
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1:40pm Wed 24 Oct 12
Huffter
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2:50pm Wed 24 Oct 12
Hdg end mo wrote:Any chance of this in English?
Police take extreme abuse about members of family/sexuality etc from drunken louts even assaulted however if they grab a scrote who's pinching a satnav then human rights comes into it the police are not allowed to police anymore without fear of an ipcc investigation from some lowlife only interested in claiming against them. And this news comes on the day Hampshire constabularys top cop gets moved to another position after overseeing cutbacks, selling off police stations, less cops on streets, saving this Cameron lead organisation money but keeping officers demoralised and at a all time low
Hdg end mo
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3:22pm Wed 24 Oct 12
Huffter wrote:That's a very constructive responce
Hdg end mo wrote:Any chance of this in English?
Police take extreme abuse about members of family/sexuality etc from drunken louts even assaulted however if they grab a scrote who's pinching a satnav then human rights comes into it the police are not allowed to police anymore without fear of an ipcc investigation from some lowlife only interested in claiming against them. And this news comes on the day Hampshire constabularys top cop gets moved to another position after overseeing cutbacks, selling off police stations, less cops on streets, saving this Cameron lead organisation money but keeping officers demoralised and at a all time low
Dresnez
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4:04pm Wed 24 Oct 12
When police taser a blind 61 yr old man with a white cane in the back and when police behave as per PC Harwood, attacking Mr Ian Tomlinson from behind as he was walking away from them with his hands in his pockets then I have to believe that there is something very wrong with the culture in the police force and that they are need to improve their selection criteria.
Many people die in custody in this country and I no longer feel the police are trustworthy.
Dixon of Dock Green has been replaced by thugs in uniform who thing they are Starsky and Hutch.
There are of course many decent police, but I am afraid my trust in the police has been very severely shaken.
I am a 63yr old female who has not been in trouble with the law at any time, just in case you think I am some sort of criminal.
I just grew up in times when the police were honourable.
starfish01
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6:01pm Wed 24 Oct 12
Give the police a break, they do a fantastic job here in Hampshire given the massive budget constraints and political mire they have to wade through!
bigal007
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6:48pm Wed 24 Oct 12
phil maccavity wrote:why are u are a drug runner did they make u bend over
Having experienced policing in other parts of the world, I am grateful to live under the care and protection of our own police force.
I am not saying they are perfect but they are, at the very least, subject to public scrutiny.
biggus2
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8:02pm Thu 25 Oct 12
hulla baloo says...
7:42am Wed 24 Oct 12