HC Deb 18 July 1985 vol 83 cc261-3W
Mr. Maginnis

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list, by rank, the number of police officers presently working in the Royal Ulster Constabulary complaints and discipline branch.

Mr. Scott

There are at present 61 police officers attached to the Royal Ulster Constabulary complaints and discipline department:

  • 1 Assistant Chief Constable
  • 2 Chief Superintendents
  • 11 Superintendents
  • 20 Chief Inspectors
  • 262
  • 10 Inspectors
  • 10 Sergeants
  • 7 Constables

Mr. Maginnis

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of civilians, with equivalent Civil Service grades, presently working with the Royal Ulster Constabulary complaints and discipline branch.

Mr. Scott

There are at present 35 civilians attached to the Royal Ulster Constabulary complaints and discipline department:

  • 1 Executive Officer Grade I
  • 6 Clerks
  • 9 Clerical Assistants
  • 19 Typists and Ancillary Staff

Mr. Maginnis

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list, by rank, the number of police officers who will be required in the Royal Ulster Constabulary complaints and discipline branch if the recommendations in the consultative paper on police complaints and discipline are accepted;

(2) if he will list the number of civilians, with equivalent Civil Service grades, who will be required in the Royal Ulster Constabulary complaints and discipline branch if the recommendations in the consultative paper on police complaints and discipline are accepted;

(3) what estimate has been provided to him as to the likely total cost of implementing the recommendations contained in the consultative paper on police complaints and discipline during the first year of operation.

Mr. Scott

The future civilian staffing and police manpower requirements of the Royal Ulster Constabulary complaints and discipline department are matters for the Chief Constable and the police authority to determine. It would be premature for an assessment to be made of the cost of any reforms in advance of substantive legislative proposals, but I do not expect that there would be substantial resource implications for the RUC in the implementation of the proposals in the consultative paper.

Mr. Maginnis

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list the total police hours worked in the complaints and discipline branch of the Royal Ulster Constabulary for each year since 1980;

(2) if he will list the total police hours worked by officers of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, other than members of the complaints and discipline branch but working at the direction of that branch, for each year since 1980;

(3) if he will list the total cost of employing officers of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, other than members of the complaints and discipline branch, for work involved in investigating complaints for each year since 1980;

(4) if he will list the total cost of investigating complaints against the Royal Ulster Constabulary subsequently found to be malicious, frivolous or otherwise unjustified for each year since 1980.

Mr. Scott

The information is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Maginnis

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the total cost of employing those police officers employed in the complaints and discipline branch of the Royal Ulster Constabulary for each year since 1980.

Mr. Scott

The information is not available in the form requested. However, the estimated cost of the police officers employed in the Royal Ulster constabulary Complaints and discipline department for 1985–86 is £1.7 million.

Mr. Maginnis

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the total cost of employing those civilians employed in the complaints and discipline branch of the Royal Ulster Constabulary for each year since 1980.

Mr. Scott

The information is not available in the form requested. However, the estimated cost of the civilians employed in the RUC complaints and discipline department for 1985–86 is £250,000.

Mr. Maginnis

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the total of all costs, by category, involved in running the Royal Ulster Constabulary complaints and discipline branch for each year since 1980.

Mr. Scott

This information is not available in the form requested, as the police authority for Northern Ireland does not record police expenditure on a departmental basis.