Police Complaints and Discipline--England and Wales, 12 Months to March 2004

• NCJ Number: 208436
• Author(s): Judith Cotton
• Date Published: November 2004
• Length: 20 pages
• Corporate Author: Great Britain Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate
• Sale Source: Great Britain Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate
• Publication Format: Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: Home Office Statistical Bulletin, 17/04; downloaded January 18, 2005.

Annotation

This bulletin reports on complaints, breaches of conduct, and discipline charges against police officers in England and Wales for the period April 2003 through March 2004.

Abstract

During the study period, the police received a total of 15,885 cases of complaint, which represents 23,849 individual items of complaint, a 4-percent increase over the previous year. Of the individual complaints, 69 percent were dealt with informally, were withdrawn, or were dispensed. A total of 7,761 individual complaints required investigations, representing a 7-percent increase over the previous year. Substantiated complaints totaled 961 during the 12 months to March 2004, a 2-percent increase over the amount of complaints substantiated the previous year. Disciplinary or misconduct allegations were substantiated against 1,545 officers during the study period, resulting in the dismissal or required resignation of 95 officers, a decrease of 17 percent from the previous year. One hundred and sixty of the officers with substantiated disciplinary or misconduct allegations were charged as a result of a complaint from a member of the public. During the study period, 177 officers were convicted of criminal offenses, representing a 9-percent decrease from the previous year. Figures, tables, notes