THE number of complaints made against Lancashire Constabulary has gone up for the third year in a row.

The latest figures show that 1,043 complaints were made against the force, an overall increase of 19 per cent in the last 12 months, and the total number of appeals made by dissatisfied complainants increased by seven per cent.

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The figures from the Independent Police Complaints Commission watchdog showed that complaints made against Lancashire Constabulary were four per cent above the national average.

A police spokesman said the force is committed to high professional standards and tries to resolve any issues as quickly as possible.

The spokesman said: “We take all complaints seriously and ensure that they are investigated fairly and thoroughly. We are never complacent and act on all forms of feedback, using it as an opportunity to make improvements, which will continue to be the focus of the constabulary.”

The figures, which cover April 2014 to April 2015, show that Lancashire Constabulary upheld 26 per cent of complaints and did not uphold the one investigation appeal it received.

Five per cent of cases were investigated and 74 per cent were dealt with through the local resolution process.

The complaints raised nationally range from failing to investigate crimes to assaults and rude behaviour by officers.

Locally, the IPCC launched an investigation in December into the treatment of a man in custody who had to be taken to hospital in a critical contrition. He had earlier complained of severe headaches.

In September the IPCC announced it was investigating how Lancashire Constabulary responded to a request to check the welfare of a 64-year-old Accrington man Peter Mitchell, who died days after being found covered in maggots.

Dame Anne Owers, chairman of the IPCC, said there remain marked differences in the way police forces across England and Wales handle complaints, meaning there are more people dissatisfied with the way their complaint has been handled.