BULLYING and intimidation complaints lodged against Wiltshire Police by the public have almost tripled in a year, a Freedom of Information request has found.

The force received 26 complaints during the last financial year, compared to just nine over the previous 12 months.

There were also ten additional in-house complaints relating to officers and staff bullying and intimidating their colleagues – more than double the four incidents recorded in the previous year.

The figures show the public lodged 18 complaints against the force three years ago (2010/11). This figure was halved over the next two years before surging from nine last year to 26.

Three years ago, there were four officer-on-officer bullying complaints, but none was recorded the following year. The number went back up to four last year, then ten this year.

All of the 18 blue-on-blue bullying complaints lodged over the last four years resulted in investigations, compared to just 12 of the 61 complaints brought by members of the public.

Three members of staff have been found guilty of bullying or intimidating this year. Two were given written warnings while the other was issued with an ‘unsatisfactory performance procedure’.

One of the complaints related to sexual harassment. No disciplinary action was taken against any officer or member of staff in the two previous years.

Two members of staff were found guilty of bullying by the force three years ago, but no disciplinary action was taken against either of them.

None of the incidents lodged and investigated by the force over the last four years involved racial discrimination and only one case related to sexual harassment.

Only one of the 26 complaints brought by members of the public this year was investigated by the force. Another was withdrawn and 24 were ‘locally resolved,’ which means the complainant was happy for Wiltshire Police to determine the solution themselves.

A police spokesman said: “Wiltshire Police takes any complaint, made by members of the public or fellow officers and staff, incredibly seriously and all are thoroughly investigated by our Professional Standards Department.

“There has been a rise in the number of complaints made but this rise is likely due to the national trend of the public becoming more aware of the complaint procedures.”