More allegations against police

[25 September 2008]

Allegations made against police officers reached a record high last year, according to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

There were 48,280 claims made in 2007/08 - an increase of 5% on the previous year. Despite the increase in the number of claims, the number of complaints - which can be made up of more than one allegation - has remained stable. The Home Office claim that the number of allegations have risen because more people are aware of their rights. Only 11% of allegations are proven. Almost a quarter of all allegations related to 'other neglect or failure on duty'. A fifth of the allegations were in relation to 'incivility, impoliteness and intolerance,' and there was also a rise in claims about stop-and-search, rising to 536 from 434 the previous year. Allegations of corruption also rose, from 236 to 290.

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