Rethink hint as complaints against police soar by 28pc

Figures contained in a Humberside Police Authority report show there were 794 allegations against officers and staff between April and December last year, a rise from the 619 recorded over the same period in 2009.

Despite the increase, the frequency of "dip sampling", or spot inspections, of complaints and the force response to them could be reduced if recommendations to the authority's Human Resources Committee are implemented.

Reviews of Professional Standards Branch (PSB) conduct complaints would be reduced from quarterly to every six months, and of direction and control complaints from every six months to annually.

This is because the latest checks have raised "very few" issues and because the Independent Police Complaints Commission is "satisfied" with the way the PSB is handling complaints.

The authority's ability to review performance could be enhanced, however, by the introduction of customer satisfaction surveys.

A report, by Chief Constable Tim Hollis, describes the current lack of these surveys as a "major gap" and a number of options are being considered, including an annual postal survey of people who have complained over the previous six months, and a questionnaire focusing on the satisfaction with the process, not the outcome.

Complaints of excessive force rose from 75 between April and December 2009 to 92 over the same period the following year.

Unlawful or unnecessary arrest or detention accounted for 32 complaints over the period last year, almost double the number for the corresponding months in 2009, and there was a similar spike from the 14 complaints of irregularity in evidence and perjury in 2009 to the 26 recorded over the period in 2010.

Complaints about treatment in custody, lack of fairness and impartiality, incivility, impoliteness and intolerance, and other neglect or failure in duty also rose.

There were fewer complaints concerning oppressive conduct or harassment, discriminatory behaviour, mishandling of property, and improper disclosure of information.