GWENT Police has seen a 12 per cent decrease on the number of complaints it received this year, figures published today show.

The figures, released by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), show that 287 complaints were recorded by Gwent Police this year, compared to 325 last year.

Of the complaints finalised by the force in 2016/17, 56 per cent of cases were investigated by the force, while 22 per cent were dealt with through local resolution.

IPCC Chair Dame Anne Owers said: “The public need to have a high level of confidence in the police complaints system. If they complain about their local police force they should be assured that it will be dealt with robustly and fairly.

“The current system is extremely complex and bureaucratic and this has led to some of the inconsistencies we have recorded year on year.

“The new system will be simpler and more flexible, and will also provide an independent appeal right for everyone, either to the IPCC or to a Police and Crime Commissioner. This is welcome, but we will still need to ensure that complainants can be assured that their complaints will be handled appropriately and thoroughly.”

A spokeswoman for the IPCC said there will be significant changes to the police complaints system in 2018, including a greater role for police and crime commissioners, who will decide on appeals that do not go to the IPCC.

The IPCC has repeated its call for the system to be simplified, and for a consistent approach to complaints and complainants across forces.

Nationally, the latest figures show there is a great deal of variation between forces, both in the number of complaints and the way they are handled.

The spokeswoman said the main areas of inconsistency in the approach to handling complaints include the fact that, when complaints are recorded, some forces choose to formally investigate most of them, while others use the less formal ‘local resolution’ process in the majority of cases.

A spokeswoman for Gwent Police said: “We welcome the publication of today’s IPCC report. 

"Gwent Police endeavours to provide an efficient and effective service to the public.  We would encourage members of the public to contact us if the quality of service they have received has not reached the standard they would expect.  

"When we receive a complaint we aim to resolve it in a fair, timely and professional way; ensuring that any opportunities for learning are identified, so that improvements can be made to the service we deliver to the public.” 

For a full breakdown of the complaints statistics for 2016/17, click here.