FOI 5681
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: HRC0005681
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 6th May 2026. Please find below the response to your request:
Please provide the number of complaints made about police officers within West Mercia Police for each financial year from 2020/21 to 2024/25.
I would be grateful if you could:
Provide the data broken down by:
Financial year and reason or category of complaint (for example: use of force, discrimination, abuse of position, incivility/unprofessional conduct, etc., using whatever categories you hold).
If recorded, please further break this down by policing area (for example: North Worcestershire, South Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Telford & Wrekin, Shropshire)
Reply
West Mercia Police have conducted searches and hold information in relation to your request.
Number of complaints and allegations made about police officers within West Mercia Police for each financial year from 2020/21 to 2024/25:
Broken down by reason or category of complaint:
|
Type Category Description |
Type Description |
2020/21 |
2021/22 |
2022/23 |
2023/24 |
2024/25 |
Grand Total |
|
Abuse of position/corruption |
Abuse of position for financial purpose |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Abuse of position/corruption |
Abuse of position for other purpose |
4 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
15 |
|
|
Abuse of position/corruption |
Abuse of position for sexual purpose |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|||
|
Abuse of position/corruption |
Obstruction of justice |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
8 |
|
|
Abuse of position/corruption |
Organisational corruption |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
9 |
|
Access and/or disclosure of information |
Accessing and handling of information from other sources |
6 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
10 |
|
|
Access and/or disclosure of information |
Disclosure of information |
25 |
37 |
20 |
25 |
23 |
130 |
|
Access and/or disclosure of information |
Handling of information |
1 |
6 |
13 |
11 |
6 |
37 |
|
Access and/or disclosure of information |
Use of police systems |
1 |
3 |
1 |
7 |
4 |
16 |
|
Delivery of duties and service |
Decisions |
114 |
65 |
67 |
169 |
211 |
626 |
|
Delivery of duties and service |
General level of service |
610 |
462 |
510 |
608 |
705 |
2895 |
|
Delivery of duties and service |
Information |
57 |
53 |
83 |
110 |
134 |
437 |
|
Delivery of duties and service |
Other |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Delivery of duties and service |
Police action following contact |
260 |
360 |
431 |
393 |
230 |
1674 |
|
Discreditable conduct |
Discreditable conduct |
13 |
32 |
14 |
23 |
14 |
96 |
|
Discriminatory behaviour |
Age |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
|
|
Discriminatory behaviour |
Disability |
6 |
12 |
6 |
9 |
15 |
48 |
|
Discriminatory behaviour |
Gender reassignment |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
||
|
Discriminatory behaviour |
Other |
4 |
2 |
8 |
6 |
1 |
21 |
|
Discriminatory behaviour |
Race |
27 |
28 |
16 |
24 |
13 |
108 |
|
Discriminatory behaviour |
Religion or belief |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|||
|
Discriminatory behaviour |
Sex |
7 |
2 |
3 |
8 |
8 |
28 |
|
Discriminatory behaviour |
Sexual Orientation |
5 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
16 |
|
Handling of or damage to property/premises |
Handling of or damage to property/premises |
37 |
59 |
25 |
116 |
113 |
350 |
|
Individual behaviours |
Impolite and intolerant actions |
46 |
28 |
46 |
84 |
70 |
274 |
|
Individual behaviours |
Impolite language/tone |
43 |
47 |
16 |
8 |
16 |
130 |
|
Individual behaviours |
Lack of fairness and impartiality |
25 |
62 |
19 |
46 |
31 |
183 |
|
Individual behaviours |
Overbearing or harassing behaviours |
37 |
46 |
25 |
41 |
37 |
186 |
|
Individual behaviours |
Unprofessional attitude and disrespect |
47 |
57 |
64 |
80 |
98 |
346 |
|
Other |
Other |
21 |
45 |
25 |
8 |
8 |
107 |
|
Police powers, policies and procedures |
Bail, identification and interview procedures |
10 |
12 |
18 |
27 |
38 |
105 |
|
Police powers, policies and procedures |
Detention in police custody |
20 |
28 |
26 |
32 |
49 |
155 |
|
Police powers, policies and procedures |
Evidential procedures |
29 |
31 |
21 |
79 |
62 |
222 |
|
Police powers, policies and procedures |
Other policies and procedures |
41 |
76 |
49 |
46 |
84 |
296 |
|
Police powers, policies and procedures |
Out of court disposals |
1 |
3 |
15 |
19 |
||
|
Police powers, policies and procedures |
Power to arrest and detain |
40 |
69 |
38 |
68 |
67 |
282 |
|
Police powers, policies and procedures |
Searches of premises and seizure of property |
53 |
42 |
58 |
93 |
48 |
294 |
|
Police powers, policies and procedures |
Stops, and stop and search |
22 |
13 |
12 |
28 |
22 |
97 |
|
Police powers, policies and procedures |
Use of force |
55 |
77 |
66 |
83 |
73 |
354 |
|
Sexual conduct |
Other sexual conduct |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|||
|
Sexual conduct |
Sexual assault |
1 |
6 |
6 |
2 |
15 |
|
|
Sexual conduct |
Sexual harassment |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|||
|
Use of police vehicles |
Use of police vehicles |
21 |
28 |
22 |
47 |
28 |
146 |
|
(blank) |
Incivility, impoliteness and intolerance |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
(blank) |
Mishandling of property |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
(blank) |
Other |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
(blank) |
Other neglect or failure in duty |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Grand Total |
1704 |
1798 |
1719 |
2299 |
2239 |
9759 |
Broken down by policing area:
|
Location |
2020/21 |
2021/22 |
2022/23 |
2023/24 |
2024/25 |
Grand Total |
|
Herefordshire |
200 |
178 |
188 |
262 |
208 |
1036 |
|
Hindlip |
38 |
18 |
59 |
71 |
72 |
258 |
|
North Worcestershire |
269 |
268 |
261 |
363 |
349 |
1510 |
|
Out Of Force |
41 |
69 |
38 |
34 |
32 |
214 |
|
Shropshire |
236 |
232 |
234 |
418 |
356 |
1476 |
|
South Worcestershire |
313 |
308 |
321 |
478 |
390 |
1810 |
|
Telford & Wrekin |
181 |
154 |
152 |
263 |
240 |
990 |
|
Not Listed |
220 |
172 |
101 |
61 |
277 |
831 |
|
Grand Total |
1498 |
1399 |
1354 |
1950 |
1924 |
8125 |