A record number of complaints were made against police in England and Wales, surpassing 100,000 for the first time, according to figures released by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The watchdog revealed a 15% surge in complaints year-on-year, bringing the total recorded between April of last year and the end of March to 108,897.
David Ford, from the IOPC, stated that the 15% annual increase is the largest observed year-on-year, with a 61% rise in complaints since the 2020-21 period. However, he cautioned against interpreting these figures solely as increased dissatisfaction with policing. Ford noted that improvements in how police forces record and handle complaints contribute to the rise, as does the increased accessibility of the complaints system, partly due to AI assistance.
The data indicates that allegations of poor service were the most common reason for complaints, accounting for 55% of the total. Matters related to police powers and policy comprised 22% of complaints, while accusations against individual officers or staff members made up 11%. Discriminatory behavior was cited in 5,061 complaints, representing 3% of the total. Specifically, race discrimination was alleged in 2,398 cases, disability in 1,116, and sex discrimination in 728.
Ford reiterated that improvements in force complaints procedures have led to more matters being formally recorded. He acknowledged that some forces may now be formally recording matters as complaints when it might not be necessary, and the IOPC continues to work with all forces to support them in this area.
Cleveland Police recorded the highest rate of complaints per employee, with 2,199 complaints against its 2,553 staff members. The Metropolitan Police, being the largest police force, received the highest total number of complaints, with 13,920.