COMPLAINTS against members of the RUC fell in the first full calendar year since the IRA and loyalist, ceasefires, but still amounted to more than 2,000.
The annual report of the independent Commission for Police Complaints reveals that the number of new complaints made during 1995, dropped to 2,330 from the previous year's high point of 2,803.
Of the 1,373 completed cases in 1995, about 9 per cent involved some form of action, ranging from criminal and disciplinary charges being brought to advice being given.
A total of 566 complaints were handled by way of informal resolution. Such an outcome, by way of mutual agreement, is limited to cases where the complaint, even if proved, does not justify a criminal or disciplinary charge.
The commission chairman, Mr James Grew, said in the early, months of 1995 it appeared the drop in complaints would be more than 20 per cent. But from, August onwards there was a rise, and the rate of new complaints in the last three months was just below the 1994 level.
He said, with the peace process, there were a number of areas where the potential for complaints in fact increased.
These included enhanced policing in the community, the withdrawal of military patrols, the increased focus on the serious drugs problem and on motoring offences, and "the public order difficulties arising from about 2,700 parades every year".
The commission's brief is to supervise the police investigation of complaints and to play a role in police discipline.
It does not have the authority to carry out its own independent investigation of complaints, nor can it impose penalties.