Recommendation - Cumbria Constabulary, August 2024
We identified organisational learning from a review of a complaint that included an allegation of discrimination.
IOPC reference
Recommendations
The IOPC recommends that Cumbria Constabulary adopt and implement the use of the IPCC guidance on dealing with allegations of discrimination when investigating/handling complaints that include allegations of discrimination.
It is recommended that there is clear guidance given to staff within the PSD when dealing with complaints involving discrimination. The guidance should advise the complaint handler to consider and apply the guidelines and demonstrate this within the report/outcome letter.
This recommendation follows an IOPC ‘other handling’ review in which it was identified from communication with the complaint handler and head of PSD that the discrimination guidelines were not being properly considered/applied, as a matter of course, on complaints of discrimination.
During our assessment of the review we did not establish any evidence that pointed towards discrimination being a factor in the incident which led to the complaint. However, we did consider that because the complaint handler failed to properly apply the discrimination guidance to the handling of the complaint, this was detrimental to the case, including to the perception of the complainant.
Accepted:
We have now updated our letter templates for all complaints, including discrimination complaints. The discrimination template includes a questionnaire which identifies more detail about why a person felt discriminated against. This is completed for every complaint where discrimination is identified. We have engaged with discrimination workshops led by the IOPC and held departmental training to ensure everybody understands how to use the template. We have also been routinely using our quality assurance process to check their use.