A Strathclyde Police detective is being investigated over claims he denied a mother access to a mortuary where her dead son was being held.
The Police Complaints Commission probe has also raised concerns over the force's failure to keep records of its discussions with witnesses, with doubts cast by the watchdog on the accuracy of statements made by officers.
The investigation, the preliminary findings of which are made public today, has prompted a national review of how the police make and maintain records of complaints to ensure they are adequate.
According to the commissioner's report, the woman – who has not been identified – claims a detective constable prevented her and another son from entering the hospital while her husband and father were identifying the body of the son who had been found dead in a flat last February. As a result, the woman did not see her son again.
The officer claims the two men agreed to identify the body while the other family members remained in their car.
The woman has also complained her later report to the police that her son's mobile phone and digital music player were missing from his flat was not investigated.
Professor John McNeill, the commissioner, has ruled both complaints were not dealt with "in a reasonable manner".
He also found an inspector and a superintendent refer to the detective involved as denying the allegation he had refused the mother entry to the mortuary.
But nowhere in the officer's statement does he deny the allegation.
Professor McNeill has also challenged the claim by the inspector that, had the woman insisted on entering the mortuary, the detective would have allowed her to do so "without question".
The Commissioner said there was no evidence to support either statements and has asked Strathclyde Police to take further statements from the officer and the relatives present at the time.
Strathclyde Police said it was aware of the recommendation but could not comment further.