Complaints about Warwickshire Police rise by 20%

Complaints against Warwickshire Police have increased by 20% in the past year, according to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).



Warwickshire Police recorded 306 complaints against officers from April 2010 to March 2011 compared with 256 the previous year.

They said changes had been made to the force in light of the complaints.

The IPCC said its annual complaints statistics for all 43 police forces showed a 4% decrease nationally.

'Notable levels'

A Warwickshire Police spokesperson said: "The force recognises that there was a significant increase in the number of complaints and that a high proportion of the allegations were about the quality of service provided.

"This was addressed during a major organisational review of the force structure which led to a new policing model on 9 May 2011."

IPCC Commissioner Rachel Cerfontyne said: "While we have seen a reduction in the total number of complaints nationally, some of the figures suggest notable levels of dissatisfaction.

"We expect to see genuine endeavours by all forces to make improvements in the public interest."