Complaints against West Midlands Police officers increased by 10 per cent in the past year, new figures revealed today.

The force had 1,871 complaints about officers during the 2010-11 financial year compared to 1,704 in 2009-10.

Staffordshire Police complaints were up four per cent, the Independent Police Complaints Commission announced.

Nationally, there was a four per cent reduction in police complaint figures. The complaints total pertaining to the West Midlands force was 3,666, up from 3,022 the previous year.

IPCC Commissioner, Rachel Cerfontyne, said: “While we have seen a red-uction in the total number of complaints nationally, some of the figures suggest nota-ble levels of  dissatisfaction.”

In total, 33,099 complaint cases were recorded against police in England and Wales last year.

West Midlands Police spokesman Lee Page said: “The force takes the issue of complaints very seriously. This is demonstrated by the fact that we investigated a higher percentage of complaints than any of the other 42 police forces last year.

“These figures are from the last financial year – a time of significant change and budget reductions for West Midlands Police. As a force we have worked hard to improve the service we provide.”