Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the conduct of a civil enforcement officer because there is not significant enough injustice to warrant investigation.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains a Council civil enforcement officer showed discriminatory behaviour when observing and inspecting the use of his blue badge. Mr X is also dissatisfied with how the Council managed its complaint handling process.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Mr X believes the officer acted wrongly by observing Mr X’s vehicle and threatening to issue a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) if he did not present the rear side of his blue badge when asked. The interaction caused Mr X some distress and anger. However, any effect of this single incident is not significant enough to warrant the Ombudsman devoting time and public money to pursuing the complaint.
6. Mr X is also dissatisfied with how the Council handled his complaint. It is not a good use of public resources to investigate complaints about complaint procedures, if we are not investigating the subject of them. So, we will not investigate this part of the complaint.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the officer’s actions and any subsequent complaint about the Council’s complaint handling as there is not significant enough injustice to warrant investigation.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman