HC Deb 13 January 1994 vol 235 c329
16. Mr. Parry

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total cost of Operation Cheetah on Merseyside to date; and whether the inquiry is continuing.

Mr. Charles Wardle

Merseyside police expect the total cost of Operation Cheetah to be approximately £2.2 million. The inquiry is now at an end.

Mr. Parry

Is the Minister aware that the chairman of the Merseyside police committee has expressed concern at the number of hours that have been spent on this investigation? Is the Minister satisfied with the liaison between the Merseyside police and the Crown Prosecution Service?

Mr. Wardle

In that case, no doubt the chairman of the police authority will make his feelings known, as I am sure he has, to the chief officer. It is for the chief officer to allocate resources and to deploy officers on operational matters. It must be the responsibility of the police to investigate such allegations.

Mr. Matthew Banks

Does my hon. Friend agree that wherever there is suspected wrongdoing on Merseyside it is entirely right for the police to investigate it?

Mr. Wardle

My hon. Friend is right and that is precisely what the police did.