HC Deb 15 December 1952 vol 509 cc137-9W
120. Mr. E. Wakefield

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the publication of a statement by the Derbyshire Standing Joint Committee regarding the report of the tribunal which sat at Derby in September last, if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a copy of the letter which he sent to the Joint Committee regarding the report of the tribunal.

Sir D. Maxwell Fyfe

Yes.

Following is the letter: I am directed by the Secretary of State to say that he has carefully considered the report of the tribunal which he appointed last June to inquire into certain allegations made by Police Sergeant Ernest Weaver. The Secretary of State would in the ordinary course have forwarded copies of the report of the tribunal for the consideration of the Standing Joint Committee in view of the fact that the allegations in question concerned the Chief Constable. In view, however, of the death of the Chief Constable, the Secretary of State thinks that it would be unprofitable to pursue any further the allegations made against him, and he gathers that the Sub-Committee appointed by the Standing Joint Committee agree with this view. The object of appointing the tribunal was to advise the Secretary of State whether the allegations raised any question as to the efficiency of the County Police Force. The report of the tribunal was for the confidential information of the Secretary of State; but he is glad to be able to inform the Sub-Committee that the tribunal's recommendations do not provide any grounds indicating inefficiency in the administration of the County Police Force. The report therefore calls for no further action on the part of the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State thinks that it would be right that the costs of those represented at the inquiry (that is, the Chairman of the County Council, the late Chief Constable and Police Sergeant Weaver) should be defrayed from the Police Fund, and expenditure entailed thereby will be recognised for the purposes of the Exchequer grant in aid of police expenditure.

121. Mr. E. Wakefield

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the findings of the tribunal which sat at Derby in September with regard to the truth of the allegations which formed the subject of the inquiry.

Sir D. Maxwell Fyfe

My object in appointing this tribunal was to obtain independent advice whether certain allegations made by a member of the Derbyshire county police force about the conduct of the late Chief Constable raised any question as to the efficiency of that force. The report was for my confidential information; but, I have thought it right to inform the Standing Joint Committee that the tribunal's recommendations do not provide any grounds indicating inefficiency in the administration of the county police force. The tribunal was of course in no sense either a court of law or a disciplinary authority and it was not within the tribunal's competence to determine finally any question involving guilt or innocence. In view of the death of the Chief Constable, I came to the conclusion that it would be unprofitable to pursue any further the allegations which had been made against him and I gather that the Standing Joint Committee agree.