Dear Mr Cook
COMPLAINT AGAINST POLICE
I write in response to your recent correspondence with your complaint against police.
As you have requested, your complaint has now been officially recorded as a ‘complaint against police’ in accordance with the provisions of the Police Reform Act 2002.
However, the issues you raise are virtually identical to the ones you raised in a previous complaint (CO/744/24) which has been dealt with and finalised on 2 September 2024. Therefore, I do not consider that it is reasonable nor proportionate use of our resources to investigate this matter further.
In accordance with guidance issued by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) I have determined that there is no requirement to investigate your complaint. The relevant part of this guidance is as follows:
The duty to investigate a complaint does not apply where the appropriate authority determines that:
- The complaint concerns substantially the same conduct or other matter as a complaint made previously, or
- There is no fresh indication in respect of that conduct or other matter that a person serving with the police may have committed a criminal offence or behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings 71, or
- There may have been the infringement of a person’s rights under Article 2 or 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights; or
- There is no fresh substantive evidence which was not reasonably available at the time the previous complaint was made and
- The previous complaint has been, or is being, otherwise handled in accordance with Schedule 3
Therefore, although the matter has now been recorded in accordance with the relevant legislation no further action will be taken.
You have the right to request a review of this decision to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. There is no right of review to the IOPC.
The review will consider whether the complaint was handled reasonably and proportionately.
You have 28 days within which to make your application for a review. The 28th day is 6 January 2025. Requests for reviews received after 28 days may not be allowed unless there are exceptional circumstances.
If you do decide to apply for a review, please email CRO@dorset.pnn.police.uk or write to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner at the following address:
Complaints Review Officer
Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner Force HQ
Winfrith
Dorset DT2 8DZ
Further information about the review process can be found on the IOPC website (www.policeconduct.gov.uk).
Yours sincerely
Mike KYNASTON
Inspector 0228
Complaints & Misconduct Unit