Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Police’s handling of a crime investigation and the Authority’s review of a related complaint. This is because we have no power to investigate complaints connected with the investigation or prevention of crime.

The complaint

1. X complains about the Authority’s actions after Police attended X’s property to investigate an alleged crime and about the conduct of Police officers, including a failure to share evidence with X.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
3. We cannot investigate a complaint if it is about action taken by or on behalf of any local policing body in connection with the investigation or prevention of crime. (Local Government Act 1974, Schedule 5, Section 26, paragraph 2 as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

6. After Police attended X’s property, the Authority carried out a review of X’s complaint about the Police officers’ conduct. X complains the Police failed to share evidence connected with the reasons for attending X’s property. We cannot investigate X’s complaint because it is connected with the action of Police in the investigation or prevention of crime. This is in line with paragraph three above.

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Final decision

7. We cannot investigate this complaint about the Police’s handling of a crime investigation and the Authority’s review of a related complaint. This is because we have no power to investigate complaints connected with the investigation or prevention of crime.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman