§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time taken by the Police Complaints Board to investigate and report on (a) all complaints referred to it and (b) complaints concerning breathalyser tests; if he is satisfied that such complaints are dealt with as expeditiously as possible; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HurdThe latest figures available on the time taken by the Police Complaints board to process complaint cases relate to 1982 and are contained in the 1982 Annual Report, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. They show that the average time between receipt by the Board of complaint investigation reports and notification 257W of the outcome of the Board's review to the complainant was 34 days. Separate statistics for complaints involving breathalyser tests are not kept.
The board is not itself involved with the investigation of complaints under the present system; its function is to consider police reports of complaint investigations to ensure that complaints have been properly dealt with and that, where necessary, disciplinary action is taken. I am satisfied that the board deals as expeditiously as possible with complaints.