Summary: Mr X complains about a Council member’s post on social media which he feels incited vandalism. We will not investigate as Mr X is not significantly personally affected by this.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains a Council member’s social media post incited vandalism. Mr X is unhappy as he considers vandalism is not a victimless crime.

Back to top

The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’. In this statement, I have used the word ‘fault’ to refer to these. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint. I refer to this as ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We may decide not to start or continue with an investigation if we believe the injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)

Back to top

How I considered this complaint

3. I have considered what Mr X said in his complaint and sent him my draft decision on it for his comments.

Back to top

What I found

4. Mr X complains a Council member’s social media post incited vandalism. Mr X lives in another council area but is unhappy as he says vandalism is not a victimless crime. Mr X considers the member should delete his tweet and apologise.
5. The Council considered Mr X’s complaint and concluded that as the Council member was acting in a personal capacity, no breach of its code of conduct took place.

Analysis

6. Mr X is not personally affected by his complaint to such a degree as to warrant our involvement. We will not therefore investigate.

Back to top

Final decision

7. My decision is we will not investigate as Mr X is not caused a significant personal injustice from his complaint.

Back to top

Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman