Police Complaints and Discipline: England and Wales, April 1999 to March 2000

• NCJ Number: 186628
• Author(s): Judith Cotton; David Povey
• Date Published: September 2000
• Length: 20 pages
• Sale Source: Great Britain Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: Home Office Statistical Bulletin, Issue 14/00

Annotation

This study of complaints and discipline charges against police officers in England and Wales between April 1999 and March 2000 found 21,000 complaint cases were recorded, 3 percent more than in the previous year.

Abstract

Of the 21,000 complaints dealt with in 1999/2000, 36 percent were informally resolved and 38 percent were withdrawn or dispensed with; 8,048 complaints required investigation in 1999/2000, 13 percent less than in the previous year. The 714 complaints substantiated in 1999/2000 represented a 4 percent decrease over the previous year, and the number of complaints substantiated was 9 percent of those investigated. More than half of substantiated complaints involved failure in duty and 27 percent involved oppressive behavior. Disciplinary charges were proven against 353 police officers, and misconduct sanctions were imposed on 476 police officers. As a result, 115 police officers were dismissed or required to resign. 6 notes, 14 tables, and 5 figures