Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint that the Council refused to investigate her complaints about a police officer and a councillor. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains the Council refused to investigate complaints she made about a police officer and a ward councillor.
2. She says that she has been ignored and vilified. She wants the councillor to be prosecuted and action taken against various other people.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service but must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. The Council responded to Ms X’s complaint and explained it did not have the power to investigate complaints against the Police. It signposted Ms X to the appropriate body.
7. It also explained the Council investigated complaints against councillors differently to other types of complaint and it signposted Ms X to the correct form to complete and provided details of the officer who dealt with complaints against councillors.
8. The Council provided appropriate signposting information to Ms X. Therefore, we will not investigate because there is not enough evidence of fault.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman