'Rude' police cause 21 per cent of complaints

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Complaints about 'incivility, impoliteness or intolerance' come second only to those about neglect or failure in duty.

The total number of complaints against police officers has almost doubled since the Independent Police Complaints Commission came into force three years ago.

It received just under 29,000 complaints from England and Wales last year, against 15,900 made in the year before it was set up.

Grievances about neglect or failure in duty made up nearly a quarter of the total, while 21 per cent complained about rudeness.

IPCC chairman Nick Hardwick said: "What are sometimes perceived as relatively minor matters, such as incivility and neglect of duty, account for almost half of all allegations against police personnel.

"They concern such things as rudeness, not keeping someone informed about a case as promised, and failing to investigate someone's crime properly.

"For the law-abiding citizen their contact with the police, whether real or perceived, can have a profound impact on their confidence in the police service as a whole."

Only one in ten of the complaints which were formally investigated was upheld.

In all, the number of complaints rose by ten per cent on the previous year.

Mr Hardwick said: "It appears that the large rises in complaints which we initially saw following the introduction of the new complaints system have now slowed."

The IPCC started work in April 2004 with its own investigators for serious incidents, replacing the previous Police Complaints Commission, which saw complaints against police forces investigated by other forces.

The figures cover complaints against all police staff, including community support officers, civilian staff and special constables.