Complaints Against Police Officers

HC Deb 04 August 1966 vol 733 cc658-60

7. Mr. Whitaker

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now take steps to establish machinery for serious allegations by members of the public against the police to be independently investigated.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

I do not at present contemplate any change in the statutory arrangements for dealing with complaints against police officers; but I shall continue to keep them under close review.

Mr. Whitaker

As New York has shown that this is perfectly practicable, will my right hon. Friend introduce this inevitable reform sooner rather than later, in view of the beneficial effect that it will have upon police public relations which, I think my right hon. Friend will agree, are the foundation of police effectiveness?

Mr. Jenkins

The new scheme in New York is just beginning and I should like to see how it works out. The provisions of Section 49 of the Police Act, 1964, have been operating for only a bare two years and I should like to see how they work out for a little longer.

Mr. Hector Hughes

If the Minister does set up any such inquiry, will he appoint as its head some thoroughly expert Sherlock Holmes who will have regard to the fact that many bogus charges are made against the police by organised perjurers?

Mr. Jenkins

I do not know about getting a Sherlock Holmes, but it is certainly the case that 90 per cent. of the complaints against the police prove to be unfounded. Although there is a substantial number of complaints against the police each year, this number is considerably exceeded by the number of letters of appreciation received by the police from the public.

Sir G. Nabarro

Would the Home Secretary repudiate at once the allegation made by his hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead (Mr. Whitaker) that reform in this field, to quote his hon. Friend, is inevitable? Would he also bear in mind that police public relations will be undermined still further if the strength and power of perjurers is reinforced?

Mr. Jenkins

I pay the greatest possible regard to police public relations and I am extremely anxious to foster them. I think that the hon. Member for Kidderminster had better conduct his private debates with the hon. Member for Hampstead.

Sir G. Nabarro

On a point of order. Is it not the fact that my hon. Friend the Member for Kidderminster (Sir T. Brinton) is not present in the Chamber?

Mr. Jenkins

I overestimated the hon. Member's degree of continuity.