Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the way a vehicle owned by the Authority, was being driven on a road, by one of its employees. This is because there is another body better placed to look at Mr X’s complaint.

The complaint

1. Mr X was unhappy about the way a fire service vehicle was being driven on a road. He said because of the way it was being driven he had to take evasive action. Mr X said the vehicle was being driven dangerously and this caused him alarm and distress.
2. Mr X was also unhappy with how his complaint was handled and he wants all those involved to receive training.

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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 another body better placed to consider this complaint. (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 I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Mr X said he was unhappy because he had to take evasive action when he encountered a fire service vehicle on the road. He made a complaint to a call handler about this, and he was also unhappy with how the staff handling his complaint treated him, saying they dealt with him in a dismissive manner.
6. We will not investigate this complaint. The Police Service are better suited to consider Mr X’s complaint about how a vehicle was being driven on a road, and whether the manner of driving is in contravention of road traffic legislation.
7. Nor will we consider Mr X’s complaint about complaint handling. It is not a good use of our resources to consider complaint handling, where we are not looking at the substantive issue.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because the Police Service are better suited to investigate allegations of dangerous driving.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman