MORE than 1,000 complaints were made against Devon and Cornwall Police during the past year, according to national figures which reveal the most frequent grievances against officers across the country were over rudeness or their late arrival.

The number of complaints against the Devon and Cornwall force shot up by 14 per cent – almost twice the national average of 8 per cent.

Police suggested the figures were a result of successful improvements to the complaints system, but the findings have sparked debate over the standards of modern policing.

The figures released by national watchdog the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) revealed there were 31,259 complaints made against forces in England and Wales in the year 2008/9 – including 1,062 against Devon and Cornwall officers.

This is up from 933 in 2007/8, an increase of 129, giving an average of more than 20 complaints a week against Devon and Cornwall Police.

Devon and Cornwall was one of 43 regional forces in England and Wales revealed in the figures, which showed one in four complaints nationally was the result of slow or ineffective response times, while a fifth of all complaints cited officers' rudeness.

Westcountry-born etiquette consultant William Hanson said some people in authority, such as police officers, often felt the need to exert their status, resulting in rudeness. "The greatest people in authority don't need to show it. Some people, such as police and members of the armed forces, have authority, but not respect. The two are different."

One former Devon and Cornwall Police officer, who served for 30 years and has asked to be anonymous, said the time-pressures on modern-day officers meant many were unable to spend as much time speaking to people on the streets.

He added: "Look at the changes made to policing in the past 10, 20, 30 years. Today, more officers are having to do endless hours of paperwork and spend less time speaking to people on their beat.

"It means that police perhaps don't know the people on their patch so well, and the other way around. Perhaps, when dealing with police, people are less respectful as they don't know the particular officer."

The figures show Devon and Cornwall Police had the 12th highest percentage rise of complaints in the past year. Lincolnshire topped the table, almost doubling its number of complaints from 263 to 383. Elsewhere, Avon and Somerset saw a rise of 13 per cent while Dorset had a 5 per cent drop.

IPCC chairman Nick Hardwick said the public expected officers to do their jobs "politely and efficiently".

"At a time when politicians and the police are debating public confidence in the police and how to make them more accountable, the complaint figures published today give a strong indication of what the public want sorted out.

"Complaints about rude and late officers consistently top complaint categories and work to address this can have a positive impact."

Mr Hardwick added: "The public recognise the police have a difficult job to do. However, this does not alter the fact that they expect officers to do their job politely and efficiently.

"These statistics show that when it is not done in this manner, they are likely to complain."

Supt Dave Beer, head of Devon and Cornwall Police professional standards unit, said the statistics reflected the success of the complaints system.

"The public now has greater confidence and improved knowledge about how to report complaints, and subsequently feel satisfied that these complaints will be properly dealt with. As a result, people are more likely to come forward if they are not satisfied with the service they have received."

One former police officer, who asked to remain anonymous, served across both counties until retirement in 2001 and offered some sympathy to today's police.

He said: "There are occasions when people expect the police to work miracles, and when they don't deliver the result they want, they can sometimes get upset.

"I don't think policing has got worse, but police officers are simply no longer as respected."

Etiquette expert Mr Hanson, 20, said his own recent experience of police caused him to believe that some officers displayed poor manners.

"I was in Manchester last week and I asked an officer where the nearest postbox was. Of course, I wasn't expecting an essay, but all I got was 'That way'.

"Manners should be one of the first things people learn, and parents and people in authority should lead by example."

Supt Beer said he was encouraged by the fact the force was able to resolve many of the complaints "at a local level", without involving the IPCC.

"The ethos of complaint resolution is for them to be dealt with at the lowest possible level of management within the force. This provides a quick and appropriate response to complaints which enables local managers to address issues with their own staff as and when they arise.