HC Deb 14 June 1973 vol 857 cc1680-1
11. Mr. John Fraser

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now completed his review of the practice of divulging information to professional bodies about criminal and suspected criminal offences.

Mr. R. Carr

I have completed my review of arrangements under which the police are asked to report the convictions, as they occur, of certain defined groups of people in the professions and the public services. I should emphasise that these arrangements do not include the supply of information about suspected offences. The review dealt also with certain other information provided by the police; and, as the statement of conclusions reached is rather long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Fraser

It is now over a year since I asked the center hon. Gentleman's predecessor whether he would make public the secret circulars issued to police chiefs about the disclosure of information. After an interval of a year, may we have a little more open government, and the publication of the instructions, so that they can be appraised and criticised by the general public and the House?

Mr. Carr

I am not sure that I can accede to the request to publish circulars of certain kinds that are issued to the police, although I shall look into the matter. What I think is important is that the House and the public should know the basis of the instructions, and that will be included in what I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I can tell the hon. Gentleman, for example, that in future the police will be asked to make reports on current convictions in respect of three groups of people—those who, on the whole, are in positions of great trust in regard to vulnerable members of society, such as doctors, nurses, and so on; those involved in matters of national security; and people who have a direct responsibility for the administration of the law, such as barristers, magistrates, and so on. To those categories alone will the instruction apply, and then only in respect of serious crimes.

Following is the information:

Police reports of convictions A working party of officials and chief officers of police has reviewed the circumstances in which the police are asked to report convictions of certain people in the professions and public services. The review was carried out in consultation with the organisations which receive the reports. I have approved the conclusions reached and will embody them in an early circular to the police. The effect is summarised below. The supply of police information will continue to be governed by the general principle that no information is given to anyone, however responsible, unless there are weighty considerations of public interest which justify departure from the general rule. Chief officers of police are agreed that any individual about whom a professional or public body receives a report of a conviction must be informed. In future the police will be asked to make reports of current convictions in respect of three groups of people:— (i) Doctors, nurses, persons employed in the care of children, and youth leaders—because they are in positions of trust in regard to vulnerable members of society. (ii) Civil servants, Atomic Energy Authority staff and Post Office permanent staff—in the interests of security. (iii) Barristers, magistrates, solicitors and solicitors' managing clerks—because they have a direct responsibility for the administration of the law. In respect of these groups the police will be asked to report convictions of offences, particularly those involving violence, indecency, dishonesty, drink or drugs, because they may reflect on a person's suitability to continue in his profession or office. Minor offences, such as road traffic offences for which there is no power to disqualify for obtaining or holding a licence, will not generally be included. But the police will be requested to report all offences by magistrates, since a series of even minor offences, such as for parking, may reflect on the fitness of a magistrate to sit in judgement on others. In addition, but only until the Department of the Environment's computer at Swansea is in operation, the police will be asked in the interests of road safety to report convictions for traffic offences by public service vehicle drivers. The circumstances in which the police may he asked to give information in connection with applications for licences for other purposes have also been reviewed. Where the police are authorised by statute to provide evidence about the suitability of applicants for certain licences they must discharge their duty to assist the courts or other statutory body. The applicants in these cases know what evidence is given by the police. I consider that it would be center for the police to maintain the practice, which does not have specific statutory authority, of helping children's departments in considering applications for adoptive and foster parents. It is also in my view center that the background of applicants to join police forces should be checked and that the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and the Gaming Board should be assisted by reports from the police. In all these cases the applicants will be left in no doubt that checks are being made. A copy of the circular will be placed in the Library of the House.