Express & Star

'Too long' spent on complaints against West Midlands Police

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The time taken to investigate complaints against West Midlands Police has been branded 'unacceptable' by a force chief.

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It took on average 201 days for investigations to be completed between April 1 and June 30 – nearly twice the 110-day target set by the Independent Police Complaints Commission,IPCC.

But it was an improvement on the previous three months when it took on average more than 300 days for investigations to be tied up.

A report to the Strategic Policing and Crime Board said 201 days was similar to the time taken by comparable forces across the country.

Chief Superintendent Andy Nicholson, head of the force's Professional Standards Department, said 201 days was far too long and it was his 'number one' priority to drive down the length of investigations.

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He added: "I don't know the origins of the 110-day target but I do know 201 days taken by West Midlands Police is unacceptable. It is far, far too long.

"I think part of the problem is that we have probably attempted to give every complaint a Rolls Royce service and be most thorough. As a consequence it has not been timely.

"I think some complaints need an element of proportionality, and we have started to do that, while some deserve the Rolls Royce, full investigation."

Between April 1 and June 30 there were 306 complaints against West Midlands Police from the public compared with 271 over the same period 12 months earlier.