North Yorkshire Police officers 'no longer accused of dealing with their own homework' after success of new complaints team

North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan revealed that the office’s independent complaints and recognition team, set up early last year, is now dealing with 78 per cent of complaints received by the force.

Of the 78 per cent of complaints, 100 per cent of complainants have said they are happy with the result and service they have received.

The force is believed to be the only one in the country to adapt this type of structure, with the new team consisting of one leader and three advisors.

Speaking to the Commons Home Affairs Committee yesterday, Mrs Mulligan said: “Complaints will only go into the Professional Standards Department (PSD) if they are criminal in nature; if someone is dissatisfied with our work; or if a person opts to choose the PSD.

“We are now dealing with fewer complaints and less administrative tasks.

“There has also been a significant dip in the number of appeals and reviews which is a clear indicator people are satisfied with the service they are getting.”

Mrs Mulligan also revealed how the complaints team, which was set up following the introduction of new Home Office rules in early 2020, is able to tackle complaints about police officers in a more direct way.

She said: “Most police forces across the country have a lot of complaints about low level stuff that actually really does undermine the public’s trust.

“The Professional Standard’s Department used to brush these aside, but now, we are able to say it is an issue and we will tackle individual officers who are repeated offenders and put the police service in the right direction and hold people to account.

“It is really important for me in my job in representing the public that I understand what is going on and I encourage the force to put things right, whether at the lower end or the really serious end.”