Complaints against police double in year.

Byline: DEBORAH JAMES

CHESHIRE Police are to recruit an extra inspector dedicated to improving the way its officers handle the public following a 103% rise in complaints to the force.

Figures released this week reveal a large increase in complaints to most police forces since the introduction of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) last spring.

In total, 727 complaints were made against officers and staff working for Cheshire between April and December 2004, compared to 358 in the same period in 2003.

They include all allegations about the behaviour of police officers and staff, ranging from incivility to serious complaints referred to the IPCC, like alleged rape and assault.

In the same period, Merseyside Police received a 44% increase in complaints to a total of 574.

The highest percentage of complaints related to incivility by officers and staff to members of the public - a 32% increase on 2003 - around half of which involved the issuing of fixed traffic penalties and 12% which involved juveniles.

A category entitled 'other assault' accounted for 25% of all complaints during the period and 18% involved 'other neglect or failure in duty'.

Geographically the highest number of complaints (38%) were in north Liverpool, 18% were in the city centre, 15% in Sefton and 14% in Wirral and south Liverpool.

Last night, both Cheshire and Merseyside police said they had expected an increase because of a change in procedures for reporting complaints.

Peter Duffy, investigations support manager for Cheshire's Professional Standards Department (PSD), said: 'If the number of complaints continued to rise and rise, then that would be a problem.

'But we have discussed our rates with the IPCC and, at the moment, we see this as a very positive thing.

'It means we are offering a more transparent and accountable service to the public.'

He confirmed Cheshire is about to recruit an additional inspector to the PSD, which currently employs four inspectors, three sergeants and three detective constables.

He said: 'We want to be proactive in identifying the causes of the complaints.'

Mr Duffy added that a total 60% of all complaints against Cheshire were resolved locally, without the need for criminal proceedings or panel disciplinaries against officers, compared to a national average of 30%.

The IPCC was set up in April 2004 with the aim of increasing public confidence in the complaints system.

Chief Superintendent Dave Jones, head of Merseyside's PSD, said the force had recently recruited five new staff to deal with civil litigation issues and assist with the increase in complaints.

He said: 'The increase was widely expected following the implementation of the Police Reform Act 2002 and the introduction of the IPCC.

'Even with this increase, the level of complaints is extremely low with only four complaints against police being made for every 10,000 people on Merseyside.'

'Any change in legislation and recording procedures that expands the categories of people who can make a complaint inevitably brings about increases in recorded data.'

Nick Hardwick, chair of the IPCC, said: 'Whilst some may be concerned at this rise in the number of complaints, I view this as a show of greater awareness and confidence in the new complaints system