Police federation say increase in complaints "a good thing"
Essex police complaints up from 1,542 in 2023/24 to 2,457 in 2024/25.
The chair of the Essex Police Federation, which represents the interests of police officers, tells Greatest Hits Radio it's "actually a good sign we've received more complaints".
It's after the total number of formal complaints to Essex Police went from 1,542 in 23/24 to 2,457 in 2024/5 - according to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
Of those complaints in 2024, 14% were upheld, or "justified" after police review.
The most common complaints to the Essex service included timeliness, the quality of investigations, the use of force and detention in police custody, unprofessional attitudes, and impolite language.
Chair of the federation, Laura Heggie, agreed that in 2024, there was a "notable increase" in the total number of complaints.
But she said: "I think it's a really positive sign."
"It means we are accessible and it means we are listening"
Heggie says she wasn't surprised by the figure: "we actively go out to the public and ask for feedback, there are more processes for people to make complaints, and I believe we are in a culture now where if we're not happy about something, we will complain about it."
She adds: "when we arrest somebody, we take away their liberty. It can be traumatic for people, they're going to make a complaint.
"But when we look into that complaint, if the justification was there to make the arrest, then that complaint wouldn't be upheld."
Heggie says she wasn't concerned by the jump in the figure because only 14% were what she called "justified".
The police federation added body cam footage helps in improving the service, as they review the footage "all the time" to "make improvements".
During the Essex Police, Fire and Crime Panel on April 1, the crime commissioner for Essex, Roger Hirst, said: “In terms of how we improve, I think the straightforward answer is to get crime down. That may sound a little simplistic, but actually, it is the really important bit about improving public confidence."
“You can do a lot with communication, but in my view, and this is a view not necessarily universally held, I think the communication needs to come after the success.
Of 59 reviews completed in 2023, nine were upheld and returned to Essex Police with recommendations.
“We are having increasing success whether that is in busting drug gangs, taking out cannabis farms, reducing domestic abuse, the level of hare coursing, or major agricultural plant theft - which are very relevant to areas like Maldon.