Police Complaints and Discipline: England and Wales, 12 Months to March 2001

• NCJ Number: 192906
• Author(s): David Povey; Judith Cotton
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 19 pages
• Sale Source: Great Britain Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: Downloaded November 16, 2001.

Annotation

This report presents data on police complaints and discipline in England and Wales for the 12 months to March 2001.

Abstract

The police received 18,911 cases of complaint in the 12 months to March 2001, a decrease of 10 percent over the previous 12 months. Thirty-four percent of complaints dealt with in the 12 months to March 2001 were informally resolved, and 34 percent were withdrawn or disposed. A total of 9,842 complaints required investigation in the 12 months to March 2001, an increase of 22 percent over the previous 12 months. This followed a 13-percent decrease in the 12 months to March 2000. A total of 903 complaints were substantiated in the 12 months to March 2001, representing 9 percent of all complaints investigated. More than half involved a failure in duty, and approximately one-fourth concerned oppressive behavior. Disciplinary/misconduct charges were proved against 1,202 officers in the 12 months to March 2001. As a result, 125 officers were dismissed or required to resign, an increase of 9 percent over the previous 12 months. A total of 291 officers warranted a fine, reprimand, or caution; and 760 officers received written warnings. 14 tables, 5 figures, and 6 notes