HC Deb 24 July 1969 vol 787 cc2107-8
9. Mr. Whitaker

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will announce the results of his review of the desirability of introducing independent inquiries into serious complaints against the police.

21. Mr. Dudley Smith

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now reviewed the present system for dealing with complaints by individuals against the police; and what proposals he has for change in view of the burden which is placed on the administrative efficiency of local forces in the time taken to investigate each individual allegation.

Mr. Callaghan

I have at present nothing I can add to the answers which I gave on 19th June in reply to Questions and supplementary questions by the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Eldon Griffiths) and my hon. Friends the Members for Bedfordshire, South (Mr. Gwilym Roberts) and Staly-bridge and Hyde (Mr. Blackburn).—[Vol. 785, c. 679–80.]

Mr. Whitaker

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many responsible members of the police are a good deal more radical than is the Home Office, and that they wish the Government would make some progress in this matter? Does not my right hon. Friend now accept the desira- bility for this in principle, and will he get down to a detailed examination of possible means of implementing it?

Mr. Callaghan

It is not always a good way of persuading me to do something to say that someone else wants it done better than I do. Leaving that on one side, I should point out that a number of views have been expressed, including those of my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary and myself. We have a desire to reconcile the fact that this disciplined service must be supported by the House of Commons with a need for ensuring a proper degree of independent observation, in order to ensure that they are not judges in their own cause.

Mr. Dudley Smith

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the fact that complaints against the police are often the last refuge of scoundrels who have no legitimate excuse for the crimes that they have committed? Everybody would subscribe to the idea that serious complaints should be properly investigated, but is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a great deal of valuable police time is wasted on inquiries which prove to be groundless—time which could be better spent on crime detection?

Mr. Callaghan

It is a fact that the majority of complaints against the police come from those with ulterior motives. The House must remember this in considering the facts. On the other hand, a small number of complaints are justified, and every one must be examined, even if it involves spending a great deal of time. I ask the House to keep this matter in balance. We must protect the police who are dealing with criminals against unfounded allegations that can cause them a great deal of pain and waste a great deal of time.

Mr. Rose

Might it not assist my right hon. Friend if he were to distinguish on the one hand between the right of a chief constable to discipline members of his force and on the other the need for a public watchdog to ensure that all inquiries are carried out in a thoroughly judicial manner?

Mr. Callaghan

My hon. Friend is trying to tempt me on to the ground that I shall certainly get on to in looking at this matter. I prefer to reserve my opinion until I have looked into the matter further.