Officers lodge bullying complaints

Published on Monday 29 December 2008 09:16

SIX police officers with the Lothian and Borders force submitted complaints to bosses claiming they were suffering from "bullying and harassment" by colleagues.

The officers and another three police support staff all made bullying complaints between April 2007 and March 2008.

Only one of the nine complaints was upheld, while two were withdrawn, two rejected, two resolved with mediation between the parties and one resolved informally. One case remains outstanding.

Overall, 19 formal grievances were raised by ten officers and 19 police staff during the year, according to the latest figures.

The number represents a drop on the previous year, when 26 were recorded.

Alasdair Muir, the force's HR advisor, said: "In terms of the grievance policy, it is important to stress that it exists as a flexible means of resolving work-related problems as quickly as possible. It is not a means of establishing guilt or providing punishment.

"However, an investigation relating to a grievance can and has led to disciplinary action."