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5 December 2010
Last updated at 19:03 ET
The number of complaints against Scottish police forces has fallen for the first time in four years, according to new figures.
The number of overall complaints dropped by 6% but three forces saw a rise.
The largest increase was at Northern Constabulary where 272 complaints were received, a rise of 55%.
Fife Constabulary recorded the biggest fall with 340 complaints received, down 16% on last year.
Tayside Police recorded an increase of 11% while the Grampian force saw complaints jump by 8%.
The report, known as the Annual Statistical Return, is compiled and analysed by the Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland (PCCS).
It looks into complaints from the public against the country's eight police forces as well as other police bodies operating in Scotland.
It also found the total number of allegations contained within the complaints fell from 8,558 to 7,689, a drop of 10%.
'Good news' A single case can contain a number of allegations and the most common complaint allegation made was irregular procedure.
About 27% of allegations fell under this category which covers issues such as police officers taking a less than detailed statement or not following a particular line of inquiry.
Assault allegations counted for 13% of the total number with allegations of excessive force amounting to 8%.
Complaints alleging criminal behaviour by on-duty police officers fell from 1,025 to 776, with proceedings being taken in 11 cases.
Professor John McNeill, from the PCCS, said: "It is too early to say if the rising trend in complaints is reversing, but the overall fall this year is good news and should be commended.
"I see the collection and analysis of data about complaints received from the public as a valuable source of information that can be used to inform the work that is already under way within the police service, to modernise complaints handling arrangements across Scotland."
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The number of overall complaints dropped by 6% but three forces saw a rise.
The largest increase was at Northern Constabulary where 272 complaints were received, a rise of 55%.
Fife Constabulary recorded the biggest fall with 340 complaints received, down 16% on last year.
Tayside Police recorded an increase of 11% while the Grampian force saw complaints jump by 8%.
The report, known as the Annual Statistical Return, is compiled and analysed by the Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland (PCCS).
It looks into complaints from the public against the country's eight police forces as well as other police bodies operating in Scotland.
It also found the total number of allegations contained within the complaints fell from 8,558 to 7,689, a drop of 10%.
'Good news' A single case can contain a number of allegations and the most common complaint allegation made was irregular procedure.
About 27% of allegations fell under this category which covers issues such as police officers taking a less than detailed statement or not following a particular line of inquiry.
Assault allegations counted for 13% of the total number with allegations of excessive force amounting to 8%.
Complaints alleging criminal behaviour by on-duty police officers fell from 1,025 to 776, with proceedings being taken in 11 cases.
Professor John McNeill, from the PCCS, said: "It is too early to say if the rising trend in complaints is reversing, but the overall fall this year is good news and should be commended.
"I see the collection and analysis of data about complaints received from the public as a valuable source of information that can be used to inform the work that is already under way within the police service, to modernise complaints handling arrangements across Scotland."
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