More than 700 complaints were recorded against Thames Valley Police officers in the past 12 months.

Between April 1, 2000, and March 31, 2001, the force received 744 alleged complaints against its officers - five more than in 1999/2000.

They included 210 of assault, 130 of incivility and 86 of failure in duty.

The complaints also included 56 accusations of oppressive conduct or harassment, 56 of unlawful arrest or detention, 31 of racially discriminating behaviour and 26 of mishandling property. But the number of incidents between police and members of the public which provoked complaints has dropped.

In 1999/2000, the 739 complaints arose out of 517 confrontations. But the 2000/2001 allegations came from 506 incidents - a drop of 2.1 per cent.

Figures released by Thames Valley Police Authority show that of last year's 503 cases completed - one case can generate more than one complaint - only 35 were substantiated. A further 141 were informally resolved.

Between February 1 and March 31, 2001, there were 79 new complaints recorded. In the same period, seven of the 72 cases were substantiated.

This resulted in one officer being forced to resign after appearing before a misconduct committee, two officers receiving written warnings, one officer being admonished by the area commander and four officers being given advice.

The substantiated complaints in the above cases included two of assault, one of unlawful arrest or detention, four of failure in duty and one of incivility.