HC Deb 01 March 1978 vol 945 cc237-8W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give the ranks of the 82 police officers from ethnic minorities serving in the Metropolitan Police and their countries of origin; and how long those holding officer rank and above and constable and sergeant have held these positions.

Dr. Summerskill

Three of these 82 officers are sergeants and the remainder constables. None has attained higher rank, but only 10 have more than five years' service, of whom two are sergeants.

Countries of birth are:

West Indies … … 27
United Kingdom … … 21
Kenya … … 10
India … … 8
Uganda … … 3
South Africa … … 2
St. Helena … … 2
Cyprus … … 2
Guyana … … 1
Kuwait … … 1
Sri Lanka … … 1
Germany … … 1
Mauritius … … 1
Bahamas … … 1
Malaysia … … 1

Sir D. Kaberry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of officers, specifying ranks, in the Metropolitan Police Force within the last 12 months, to the latest convenient date, who (a) have been found guilty by a court on a criminal charge, (b) have been dismissed the service on disciplinary charges, (c) currently have charges against them and are awaiting trial, (d) have been suspended pending disciplinary inquiries and complaints, and (e) have had complaints made against them by members of the public.

Dr. Summerskill

Following is the information. Except where otherwise indicated, the figures are for the year ended 31st December 1977.

(a) Number of officers found guilty by a court on a criminal charge:

Rank Traffic offences Other criminal offences Total
Constable 91 7 98
Sergeant 11 3 14
Chief Inspector 1 0 1
Superintendent 1 0 1
Total 104 10 114

(b) Number of officers dismissed or required to resign from the force on disciplinary charges:

Rank Dismissed Required to resign Total
Constable 5 7 12
Sergeant 2 0 2
Inspector 0 2 2
Total 7 9 16

(c) Officers who currently have charges against them and are awaiting trial:

Rank Traffic offences Other criminal offences Total
Constable 13 22 35
Sergeant 1 2 3
Inspector 0 1 1
Total 14 25 39

(d) Number of officers suspended pending disciplinary inquiries and complaints:

Rank
Constable … … 81
Sergeant … … 18
Inspector … … 7
Chief Inspector … … 3
Superintendent … … 1
Chief Superintendent … … 2
112

(e) Number of officers involved in complaints investigations completed during 1977:

Rank
Constable … … 8,844
Sergeant … … 2,404
Inspector … … 536
Chief Inspector … … 113
Superintendent … … 34
Chief Superintendent … … 42
Commander … … 5
11,978

Notes:

(1) Some of the complaints concerned would have been made in earlier years.

(2) The complaints concerned also involved an unknown number of unidentified officers.