§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now make a statement on the outcome of the inquiry into the misuse of the police 398W national computer announced on 19 June 1985, Official Report, column 138; and what measures are proposed to endeavour to avoid such misuse in future.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe Police Complaints Authority announced on 24 March 1986 that the investigation carried out by the assistant chief constable of Sussex under its supervision had been completed. It had revealed a number of incidents of misuse of the police national computer in respect of vehicle registration marks selected as winning numbers in the BP and national car registration number competition. No evidence was found that police officers had received money from such misuse, nor was any evidence found of the commission of a criminal offence. Twenty-five police officers are to face or have already faced disciplinary proceedings as a consequence of the investigation. In addition, three police officers resigned from their forces in the course of the investigation.
The authority indicated that the investigation revealed discrepancies between police forces in the way in which local force orders regulated access to the police national computer. They are to submit to my right hon. Friend a report containing their recommendations for the avoidance of future misuse of the computer. My right hon. Friend 399W will consider what action is necessary when he has received the report, which he is required to lay before Parliament and to publish.