The Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland has told Strathclyde Police to reconsider its use of 'kettling' after finding the Force didn't "reasonably handle" a complaint following a demonstration in January last year.

Professor John McNeil challenged a letter sent by a Chief Inspector to a man who said he feared being "crushed to death" following "a real over reaction by the police".

The letter referenced an on-site witness who had said the police did issue clear instructions to protestors that they would be 'kettled', however the full witness statement indicated this instruction was only issued after police had blocked the protestors' movement.

Prof McNeill suggested this was a misinterpretation of the evidence with a view to undermining the complaint and said: "I think that there was a case for this complaint being subject to a specialist investigation by the Professional Standards Department, rather than the local division.

"This would have been in line with guidance I issued last year which states that complaints about service failures which, if upheld, could have a serious adverse affect on public confidence, should be subject to investigation by the Professional Standards Department.”

A full copy of the report can be downloaded from www.pcc-scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Posted 21/02/2012 by richard.hook@pavpub.com