HC Deb 13 November 1980 vol 992 cc608-10
16. Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence his Department has received regarding the working party he has set up for revision of the police complaints procedure.

Mr. Whitelaw

I have received some observations from Members of Parliament and others, including recently those of Justice and the Merseyside county council, on the triennial review report of the Police Complaints Board. The working party is concerned only with how the board's recommendation for an independent element in the investigation of serious complaints might be implemented.

Mr. Meacher

Indeed. Is the Home Secretary aware that he has drawn the terms of reference of the working party far too restrictively and that to have the investigation of complaints supervised by a lawyer, however distinguished, in no way adequately guarantees the independence of the complaints system? Will he recognise that the public will be satisfied about the independence of that system only if civilian police ombudsmen are appointed in each of the 43 police force areas of the country?

Mr. Whitelaw

I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman or with almost any of the points that he has put forward. I believe that it was right to draw the working party's terms of reference tightly so that it considered the one major point about the independent element in important offences. That is what was done. As to the hon. Gentleman's other point of view, I do not think that it commands very much support anywhere except from himself.

Mr. Garel-Jones

Can my right hon. Friend say whether any complaints procedure exists whereby the police can make known their justified complaints against the continual harassment of the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher)?

Mr. Whitelaw

I think that I have said enough and I shall go no further.

Mr. Hooley

Is the Home Secretary aware that it would enhance public confidence in the police if there was a genuinely independent procedure for investigating complaints?

Mr. Whitelaw

We believe that that is important, which is why we set up the working party on the particular point that was made in the police complaints board triennial review. I hope that the House will equally accept that it is right that there should be the most stringent investigations. I believe that the police as a whole conduct stringent investigations. I should also have thought that, from all the evidence, the police command a great deal of public support for their actions in this country.

Mr. Aitken

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in some police forces senior officers above the rank of chief inspector are spending more time—the majority of their time—investigating these complaints instead of investigating crime? Is he further aware that this absurd situation has come about because the complaints procedure comes automatically into force whether or not a complainant has asked for it? Should we not, as a matter of urgency, ensure that that procedure is complainant-activated?

Mr. Whitelaw

I agree with my hon. Friend that there is no doubt that a great deal of important, valuable police time is spent investigating complaints which often turn out to be illusory and without foundation. It is a serious matter, and it is all the more important that we get the complaints procedure into proper balance. I hope that the House will keep it there. Sometimes I think it will, and sometimes I think it will not.