Adobe StockScotland’s independent police watchdog has warned a record level of demand for investigations into deaths involving policing means it will not be able to deliver the service “that the public rightly expects”.
Police investigations and review commissioner (Pirc) Laura Paton said it is taking her office longer to complete investigations because of an increasing and complex caseload.
This includes high-level investigations when someone has died in police custody or following contact with officers.
Her comments come after the latest annual report from Pirc showed 191 investigations were being managed, including 49 deaths.
Pirc’s annual report covers the 12 months to March 31, during which Pirc began 41 death investigations, a 128% increase from 18 in the 2024-25 period.
This includes seven investigations into domestic abuse-related homicides and suicides.
The watchdog has carried out a strategic review to assess demand against resources while also setting a new future direction, but Ms Paton said wider action is now needed.
The commissioner said: “We are experiencing a sustained increase in demand that exceeds our available resources and is beyond our control.
“We will take all reasonable steps to work efficiently, prioritise serious investigations, and maintain the quality of those investigations, however there is a limit to what we alone can achieve.
“In the absence of external intervention – such as a reduction in demand, additional funding or the delayed expansion of our statutory functions – a further deterioration in the timeliness of our investigations is inevitable.
“This means that we will not be able to deliver the service that the public rightly expects; this will affect bereaved families and complainers, as well as confidence in police accountability and policing itself.”
The organisation has also said it is expecting an increase in the public seeking assistance from Pirc as Police Scotland works through a significant backlog of police complaints.
Ms Paton said in her report: “Police Scotland’s complaint handling performance is of considerable concern. Not only are members of the public waiting too long but the number of those who remain dissatisfied with the response and apply to Pirc for a review has increased.
“We have also noted delays in Police Scotland’s implementation of the recommendations arising from our reviews.
“This concerning trend is being closely monitored.”
Police Scotland and the Scottish Government have been approached for comment.
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
