Kwikota nganye, iOfisi eZimeleyo yoKuziphatha kwaMapolisa (IOPC) iqokelela iinkcukacha kwimikhosi yamapolisa malunga nendlela abazisingatha ngayo izikhalazo. Basebenzisa oku ukuvelisa iibhulethi zolwazi ezimisela ukusebenza ngokuchasene nenani lemilinganiselo. Bathelekisa idatha yamandla ngamnye kunye neyabo iqela lamandla afanayo i-avareji kunye neziphumo zizonke kuyo yonke imikhosi eNgilani naseWales.
Eli bali lingezantsi likhapha INcwadana yeZikhalazo ye-IOPC yeKota yesiThathu yowama-2023/24:
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey (OPCC) continue to monitor and scrutinise the complaint management function of Surrey Police. This latest Q3 (2023/24) complaint data relates to the performance of Surrey Police between 1st Epreli 2023 ukuya ku-31st Disemba 2023.
Most Similar Forces (MSF) Group: Cambridgeshire, Dorset, Surrey, Thames Valley
Iindidi zezityholo zibamba ingcambu yokungoneliseki echazwe kwisikhalazo. Ityala lesikhalazo liya kuba nesityholo esinye okanye ngaphezulu kwaye udidi olunye lukhethiwe kwisityholo ngasinye esingenisiweyo. Nceda ubhekisele kwi-IOPC Isikhokelo esisemthethweni ekubambeni idatha malunga nezikhalazo zamapolisa, izityholo kunye neenkcazo zecandelo lezikhalazo.
The OPCC Complaints Lead is pleased to report that Surrey Police continue to perform exceptionally well in relation to logging of public complaints and contacting complainants. Once a complaint has been made, it has taken the Force an average of one day to both log the complaint and between 1-2 days to both log and contact the complainant.
Surrey Police has logged 1,686 complaints and this is 59 more complaints than recorded during the Same Period Last Year (SPLY). It is slightly higher than MSFs. The logging and contact performance remains stronger than MSFs and the National Average, that is between 1-2 days (see section A1.1).
This is the same performance as last quarter (Q2 2023/24) and something that both the Force and the PCC are proud of.
The Force logged 2,874 allegations (166 more than SPLY) and also recorded more allegations per 1,000 employees than the MSFs and National Average. The Force acknowledge that it is recording a significantly higher number of allegations than the MSFs and training is underway with complaint handlers to ensure that points of complaint relating to a specific aspect of police activity are covered under one allegation where appropriate and inline with IOPC guidance.
An area that the PCC is pleased to report is that the percentage of cases logged under Schedule 3 and recorded as ‘Dissatisfaction after initial handling’ has reduced from 32% to 31%. This is still higher than MSFs and National Average who are between 14%-19% under this category. To address this concern, the Force has made changes to its recording processes, and we should see further improvements in the coming months, with less complaints being recorded under this category.
Surrey Police is also in the process of addressing the challenges presented through the handling of property. Operation Coral has been launched to address property auditing, retention and disposal processes, and it is hoped that this activity will reduce the number of future complaints under this category (see section A1.2). The Force is also anticipating a reduction in the recording of ‘General Level of Service’ in the next quarter owing to the training that has recently been delivered to the complaint handlers (section A1.3). Although higher than our MSFs, the majority of complaints relating to the use of our powers to arrest and detain are resolved having established that the service was acceptable.
The Force is also in the process of reviewing why the ‘None’ category (section A1.4) remains the second highest. The Force anticipate that complaint handlers are using this instead of other, more appropriate factors and will seek to respond with its findings within next quarters report.
The timeliness of investigations for cases under Schedule 3 – by local investigation, was 216 working days compared to 200 days for the SPLY (+16 days). The MSFs is 180 days and national average is 182 days. Surrey PSD are in the process of recruiting three new complaint handlers to increase resilience and timeliness of investigations. It is anticipated that timeliness will improve once the officers are in post and have received sufficient training to carry out the role.
The way allegations were handled (section A3.1) shows that only 2% were handled under Schedule 3 investigated (not subject to special measures). The Force believe the number of allegations handled that are not subject to special procedures remains lower than that compared to MSFs owing to the fact that Surrey PSD have omni-competent complaint handlers, responsible for both the initial handling and any subsequent investigation that is required. This allows them to manage complaints outside the requirements to record the matter as an investigation.
Although Surrey Police have made 29 (27%) more referrals to the IOPC compared to our MSF (section B referrals), both the Force and the OPCC have sought reassurance from the IOPC that these have been appropriate and in-line with guidance.
An area of work that the Force will now be focussing upon, is its actions following outside of Schedule 3 complaint cases (see section D2.1). PSD accept that it is not recording the appropriate outcome, recording it as ‘Explanation’ and therefore, training is being delivered to complaint handlers to ensure that the most accurate outcome is recorded. Again, Surrey Police identify ‘NFA’ less frequently than our MSF, thereby demonstrating that we are taking positive action where appropriate in the majority of our cases. (48% last quarter to 9% this quarter).
Apho isikhalazo sishicilelwe phantsi kweShedyuli yesi-3 yoMthetho woHlaziyo lwamaPolisa ka-2002, ummangali unelungelo lokwenza isicelo sokuphononongwa kwakhona. Umntu angafaka isicelo sophononongo ukuba akonelisekanga yindlela esisingathwe ngayo isikhalazo sakhe, okanye sisiphumo. Oku kusebenza ukuba ngaba isikhalazo siphandwe ligunya elifanelekileyo okanye siphathwe ngenye indlela ngaphandle kophando (aluphandwayo). Isicelo sophononongo siya kuqwalaselwa nokuba liqumrhu lamapolisa lengingqi okanye yi-IOPC; iqumrhu lophononongo olufanelekileyo lixhomekeke kwiimeko zesikhalazo.
During Q3, the OPCC took an average of 32 days to complete complaint reviews. This was better than SPLY when it took 38 days and is much quicker than MSF and the National Average. The IOPC took an Average of 161 days to complete reviews (longer than the SPLY when it was 147 days). The IOPC are aware of the delays and communicate regularly with the PCC and Surrey Police.
umbhali: Sailesh Limbachia, Head of Complaints, Compliance & Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
date: 29 Februwari 2024.