§ 15. Mr. Raphael Tuckasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that Sue Berry of Watford can identify at least one of the police officers who told her to plead guilty of an offence of which she was subsequently acquitted, what further action he proposes to take; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TaverneAs there has been some conflict of information on the question whether Miss Berry could identify an officer alleged to have advised her to plead guilty, the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has made detailed inquiries on this point. Miss Berry has stated that she remembered an officer who gave evidence against her in court as being the same officer who noted her name and address at the time of her arrest. But my information is that she did not identify this officer as one who advised her to plead guilty and that the officer concerned categorically denies that he at any time spoke to Miss Berry or her companion about their pleas. On 18th November, she and her companion informed the police that neither of them had made or wished to make any complaint against the police.
§ Mr. TuckAlthough the young girl in question has now compassionately stated that she does not wish to make any formal complaint, will my hon. and learned Friend give an assurance that he will make it clear to the police, especially the policeman in question, that this kind of thing must never happen again?
§ Mr. TaverneI note that my hon. Friend pursues this when the young lady does not. Of course, the police are made aware that using pressure to persuade someone to plead guilty is improper, but in this case the young lady has not identified any particular police officer as having made such a suggestion, according to my information.