Calls for Met's anti-riot unit to be mothballed

Figures obtained by the BBC under the freedom of information act show that over 2,000 officers have been the subject of at least three complaints in 2009/2010.

Most were about rudeness, assault or failure of duty. The Police Force of Northern Ireland had the highest number of officers with three or more complaints, at 376. The Metropolitan Police was second with 273 officers, followed by Greater Manchester with 160, Kent with 130 and West Mercia with 117.

Green MPA member Jenny Jones said confidence in the police was being eroded and singled out the Met's controversial Territorial Support Group (TSG) for particular criticism.

She said: "These levels of complaints show that certain forces have real problems in their behaviour towards the public.

"Worryingly, the number of complaints is almost certainly an under-reporting. People may feel aggrieved or abused, but think that complaining is a waste of time, or because methods of recording by the police are sometimes dubious.

"The police have some way to go before they regain the respect they need to do a good job.

"Personally, I think it's time to radically change the TSG or scrap it entirely. The necessary massive changes in recruitment, training and rotation of officers may be too difficult to achieve. It has to go."

United Campaign Against Police Violence spokesman Patrick Ward said: "I think when it comes to people making complaints to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, the IPCC has shown itself to be on the side of the establishment, especially since the G20 protests.

"Lack of faith in the police is at an all time high. This is not just about protests but also the families whose loved ones died in police custody."

Many of those who do complain, such as the family of Sean Rigg who died in police custody two years ago, still have not received justice he said.

A spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers said it would reserve judgement until the IPCC had published its annual figures.