HC Deb 28 February 1984 vol 55 cc111-3W
Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to supply the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras with the report on the incident involving Ministry of Defence police stopping and searching one of his constituents in October 1983.

Mr. Lee

Following the hon. Gentleman's formal complaint, this incident has been investigated by a senior officer of the Ministry of Defence police, as required by the Police Act 1976. His report his been referred to the Police Complaints Board and is currently being discussed with them. The board will write to the hon. Gentleman when it has reached a decision.

Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence under what powers Ministry of Defence police may apprehend a member of the public on a public highway.

Mr. Lee

Ministry of Defence police under the Metropolitan Police Act 1860 (as subsequently amended and extended) may exercise the full powers and privileges of a constable within 15 miles of a Ministry of Defence establishment in respect of Crown property.

Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions are given to Ministry of Defence police about their powers over members of the public on a public highway.

Mr. Lee

Instructions to Ministry of Defence police officers about their powers outside Ministry of Defence premises are contained in the various manuals which relate to the force and in orders which are from time to time issued by the chief constable under the authority of the Defence Council.

Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current (a) establishment and (b) strength of the Ministry of Defence police in each rank and in total; how many are uniformed; and how many are plain clothes.

Mr. Lee

The current figures for the Ministry of Defence police are as follows:

Establishment Strength
Chief Constable 1 1
Deputy Chief Constable 1 1
Assistant Chief Constable 5 5
Chief Superintendent 7 7
Superintendent 18 17
Chief Inspector 49 48
Inspector 168 157
Sergeant 623 600
Constable 3,276 3,094
Total 4,148 3,930

Of the total strength, 3,803 are uniformed and 127 are in plain clothes.

Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest estimate of the total cost of the Ministry of Defence police in the current year; and how this compares with previous years.

Mr. Lee

Not all the expenditure incurred on the Ministry of Defence police is identified separately and some costs are taken up by the Ministry of Defence establishments at which the force serves. The bulk of the expenditure arises from salary and associated costs and these are expected to amount to £43.5 million in the financial year 1983–84. Comparable costs were £38.9 million in 1982–83 and £35–7 million in 1981–82.

Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether Ministry of Defence police are armed; whether they are entitled to carry arms on a public highway; and what are the figures for the number of gun issues to Ministry of Defence policemen in the last year for which figures are available.

Mr. Lee

Ministry of Defence police may carry' arms on Ministry of Defence premises and outside them by being persons in the service of Her Majesty, acting in their capacity as such, in accordance with section 54 of the Firearms Act 1968. It would not be in the public interest to disclose details of the number of weapons issued.

Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the respective duties of Ministers and senior officers of the Ministry of Defence police in relation to offical complaints about the conduct of Ministry of Defence police.

Mr. Lee

Ministerial responsibility for all matters relating to the Ministry of Defence police is exercised by me on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. The Police Act 1976 requires that a formal complaint against a police officer should be investigated by a senior officer and that the report of the inquiry should be referred to the Police Complaints Board for consideration. This procedure applies to the Ministry of Defence police as it does to other police forces in England and Wales.