HL Deb 11 May 1987 vol 487 cc417-8

2.43 p.m.

Lord Allen of Abbeydale

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ensure that senior officers of the Metropolitan Police respond promptly and personally to inquiries from the Police Complaints Authority.

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, arrangements for the day-to-day handling of complaints matters within the Metropolitan Police are a matter for the commissioner.

Lord Allen of Abbeydale

My Lords, is it not regrettable that, at a time when it is so important to build up confidence in the Metropolitan Police, the independent Police Complaints Authority has been driven to stating publicly that, unlike what happens in other forces, senior Metropolitan Police officers do not reply promptly to letters sent to them personally by members of the authority? When a reply eventually arrives it usually comes from someone else in the organisation. Will the Minister ask his right honourable friend to call for a report from the commissioner in. say, six months' time to show that this criticism has been taken to heart and to make sure that there has been a real improvement?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, I assure the noble Lord that the criticism has already been taken to heart because. as I understand it, the deputy commissioner has met the chairman of the authority twice since the publication of that report. Of course my right honourable friend the Home Secretary is available to help if he is called upon to do so.

Lord Elwyn-Jones

My Lords, is it not the case that the Police Complaints Authority recommended in its report that it would be in the interests of the force's reputation with the public whom it serves to review its administrative procedures in this field? Has any such review been made by the relevant Metropolitan Police authorities?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, I understand that that was one of the topics discussed at the meetings to which I have just referred.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, does the noble Earl agree that what my noble and learned friend has just said is in the interests primarily of the public, but to a great extent also in the interests of the Metropolitan Police itself? Does the Minister agree that any improvement to allay public fear would enhance the good name of the Metropolitan Police?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, I am sure that we can all look at some of our procedures and find them wanting. The Metropolitan Police is no different in that respect, but I am sure that it will do everything it can to meet the concerns of the authority.

Lord Mishcon

My Lords. does the Minister agree that to a large extent his office is responsible for the good name of the police? Was he therefore interested enough to find out the result of the meetings between the Metropolitan Police authorities and the chairman of the Police Complaints Authority? Was an agreed procedure for the future arrived at as a result of those two meetings?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, the answer to the last question which the noble Lord asked is that I honestly do not know because that is a matter for the police. However, I shall see whether I can find out.

Lord Allen of Abbeydale

My Lords, the Police Complaints Authority must have been extremely moved to have made this complaint in public in the way it did. I know just a little about relations between the Home Secretary and the Commissioner of Police. I wonder whether I may have an answer to the question I asked about the possibility of calling for a report in six months' time to see what has happened.

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, I shall pass on the concerns of the noble Lord to my right honourable friend.