Complaints against Dyfed-Powys Police rocket
COMPLAINTS against Dyfed-Powys Police have rocketed.
The force has recorded the second highest percentage increase in England and Wales for the number of public complaints received against it.
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It saw a 53 per cent rise in complaints from 2006/7 to 2007/8, from 188 to 287.
The nation's Gwent, North Wales and South Wales forces saw respective 14 per cent, nine per cent and 12 per cent increases.
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Dyfed-Powys has said it welcomes complaints and expects to be held to account.
The figures have been produced by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
It is the body which can investigate allegations against officers ranging from impoliteness through to assault.
For the year ending March 31, 2008, the organisation recorded 28,963 complaints against English and Welsh forces, almost the same as the previous year's figures.
A majority of forces, 24 out of 43, saw a decrease in the number of complaints recorded recorded against them.
The biggest increase in the number of complaints was seen by Sussex Police where there was an 81 per cent rise, or 346 more complaints.
In a statement Dyfed-Powys Police said the rise was evidence of public confidence in the complaints system.
It said the rise in numbers worked out to just short of an additional two cases per week, and that the average number of allegations attached to each case was 1.7 which was consistent with the national average.
It also pointed out that, as a region, it handled around 200,000 calls for assistance each year and that the total number of complaint allegations against it totalled 507.
"Such increases are acknowledged as a potential indication of public confidence in the complaints system in that the public are confident that when reporting allegations of wrongdoing by police officers and staff, they will be recorded and dealt with appropriately," said a force spokesman.
"It is fair to say that most police officers and staff do their best to provide the highest quality of service in what sometimes can be very difficult and challenging circumstances. Inevitably there will be occasions where we do not always get it right.
"We welcome comments and complaints from members of the public, and as a public service we expect to be held to account. We endeavour to learn lessons from cases whether this be on an individual or organisational basis."
IPCC chair Nick Hardwick added: "Clearly, the public continues to feel greater confidence in the complaints process."
Comments
by anon, pembs
Monday, December 08 2008, 11:21AM
“i totally agree i have made 30 complaints about a group of youths and keep being told nothing we can do these youths have stolen property from my house kicked my vehicles and admitted it tried breakin in2 my house police still adamant nothin they can do the law protects the criminals”
by Ken Edgar, Bristol, England
Friday, September 26 2008, 2:22PM
“How much longer are the people going to take before they accept that with the police, it is always a "Them and us" scenario! Police used to be respected; now their distrusted! the used to be helpful and polite, now their persecutors of millions of innocents, while the real law breakers go around scot free. To the police it is all about a salary; Promotion; and Pension; Which we are mugged for! Indigenous law-abiding people are constantly harrassed and persecuted for the smallest infringment . we get abused verbally by scrounging immigrants if we dare say anything, and yet complain? the police are straight away on the side of the immigrants! I know i have had it, not once but several times! We never or rather rarely see a real plod. yet friday's and saturday's they are about in gangs; and if you happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time may God help you; they will spray your eyes with blinding pepper spray; beat you with coshes, electocute you with tazers, and if their really having a bad night execute you because "they said" that they thought their lives were in deadly danger! Police? My fellow friends the police are not on our side; they are only on the side of their fellow plods; this you may not accept, but, you will when one day you ask them for help! There are today serveing police with criminal convictions! yes my friends that is a fact! when you research you will find out there are in fact quite a lot of them today with criminal records, reight up to a cheif inspector! No i do not hate the police, i just hate today what they have now become. a thug para-military force carrying out the wishes of a corrupt and crooked government.”
by Mark Phillips, Swansea
Thursday, September 25 2008, 10:54PM
“Steve, how can the police 'convict' innocent people. I didn't realise we had a Judge, Jury and Executioner legal system in the UK?”
by Anon, Swansea
Thursday, September 25 2008, 7:19PM
“Steve, you just carry on sitting behind your cosy desk and let the real men do all the work.”
by bobbie, swansea
Thursday, September 25 2008, 6:25PM
“Steve Measteg...I am a serving police officer and whilst I strongly agree with Anon Swansea, I also agree with your comments.......you as a civilian have no idea what the force (SWP) is going throught at the moment with " work force transformation".....melt down is another word for it. The force is committed to civilianisn all depts, including CID, CSI, Finacial Invstigations, to name a few.. soon we will have no real police officers left. Your crime, burglary, car theft, or murder will be dealt with entirely by Police staff not police officers,,civilians.Morale is at a all time low within the force, many officers prefering to right off crimes rather than deal with them because CPS will not take on simple offences let alone serious ones.. its not the fault of the officers that we feel this way but beurocracy and red tape.
Take Neath division for instance...one weekend this summer saw Neath being policed on a night shift 19.00-07.00 hrs by one Sgt and one PC.Thats covering from Brition ferry to Cwmgrach....with prisoners to process from day shift, this meant that there was no one to respond to any calls......i fear for my safety and that of my family these days and im in the job...god help how you would feel if you only knew.
Anon for this very reason.”
by steve, swansea
Thursday, September 25 2008, 5:27PM
“When you read stories of large groups of youths getting hammered in public, exposing their bits, and generally harrassing and frightening law abiding passers by, only for the police to defend their actions with "They are only being teenagers" its no wonder public confidence in plod is at an all time low. Todays police are heavily politicised, more corrupt than at any other time in history, and seem more concerned with being seen sporting the latest pair of raybans, toting some ridiculous Top gun type nickname, on the latest Sky one type mockumentary , than upholding law and order. Hopefully this will change in 18 months or so when we have a new govermerment. If it doesnt, the consequences for us all are dire indeed.”
by Steve, Maesteg
Thursday, September 25 2008, 3:21PM
“Anon, Swansea - wouldn't happen to be a police officer would you? Or maybe related to one?? Just face it, the police are "results" driven these days and will do anything to hit their targets. This often means convicting inocent people and ignoring crimes that maybe too complicated to solve.”
by Anon, Swansea
Thursday, September 25 2008, 1:58PM
“jane jones, swansea lets be sensible about this, how can police lock innocent people up? you obviously know nothing about the system. Yet another blown up story against the police. I admire any person who works for the police service. Long, unsociable hours, dealing with horrific incidents, a high work load and low pay. Im getting board with this negativity.”
by Mark, Gower
Thursday, September 25 2008, 1:26PM
“I didn't know Dyfed Powys police had a rocket!”
by jane jones, swansea
Thursday, September 25 2008, 12:18PM
“quiet right the police are a law unto them selves, they don't even bother looking in to cases probalby.they just want a pat on the back for banging some poor innocent men away.the too busy doing there own things and are rude to the public. i am 49 years old and would never ask a policeman for help.i seen to much over the years with the police.”