Ministry of Defence Police (Hansard, 24 July 1986)

§ Mr. Lee

1. I welcome Sir Ewen Broadbent's report which has today been published as Cmnd. 9853.

2. Of the report's 21 recommendations, 17 are accepted, as follows:

(a) it is the Government's intention that there should be a Ministry of Defence Police Bill and that this be included in the legislative programme as soon as possible (recommendations (i), (ii), (iv) and (ix) (part)).
(b) the proposed review of the arrangements for escorting road convoys is being carried out (recommendations (iii) and (viii)).
(c) seaward protection units and dog detachments will be retained (recommendation (vi)).
(d) the number of police support units will be kept to a minimum (recommendation (vii)).
(e) an MOD police committee will be appointed on the lines and with the tasks proposed. The secretariat has been strengthened and will serve the police committee (recommendations (ix) (part) and (xvi)).
(f) there will be a single dedicated cell to carry out staff inspections throughout the whole of the force on the basis proposed and there will be periodic inspections by HMCICs (recommendations (xii) and (xiii)).
(g) the budget approach is accepted, but in working out the details it will be necessary to reconcile the chief constable's needs with those of line managers who have security responsibilities, and budgets of their own. Work is in hand. (Recommendation (xv)).
(h) the need for amplification of existing instructions and a closer definition of the roles of commanding officers, senior security officers and senior police officers is accepted (recommendation (xvii)).
(i) the police staff associations will have the right to make representations to the MOD police committee and staff facilities and arrangements for consultation have been revised on the lines recommended (recommendation (xviii)).
(j) the need for comprehensive training in Scottish practice and law is accepted. On training generally, the aim will be to make the most cost-effective use of Home Department's facilities where appropriate (recommendations (xix) and (xx)).
(k) the provision of MDP services to non-MOD bodies will be reviewed (recommendation (xxi)).

3. Of the remaining four recommendations, the thinking behind two ((x) and (xi)) in relation to close and effective communication between the service and MDP command structures is fully accepted and I believe that this can be achieved without the relocation of facilities and any major restructuring of the MDP's subordinate organisation. As regards recommendation (v) the CID element of the MDP is already considerably smaller than those of Home Office forces of similar size, and I do not think it is in the public interest that the scale of their present operations should be reduced. However, it is clearly sensible that the MDP should, to the maximum extent practicable, draw upon resources available elsewhere to support CID operations rather than attempts to duplicate these. Every effort will be made to ensure that, insofar as any problems over overlapping areas of operations may arise, these problems are anticipated and dealt with.

4. Finally, recommendation (xiv) concerning the introduction of a special constable scheme is the subject of continuing study since major issues on the practicability and effectiveness of such a force clearly arise.

5. Sir Ewen Broadbent's committee is to be congratulated on the quality of its report which the Government welcome as an important contribution to the future well-being and efficiency of the MDP. The committee clearly sees a continuing and important role for the MDP in providing policing and security services in relation to Crown property and servants. I endorse that conclusion and have full confidence in the MDP's capacity to discharge that role.