§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis as to what costs were incurred by the Metropolitan police in bringing charges relating to the possession of drugs against Mr. Roc Sandford.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggI understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that Mr. Roc Sandford was charged with possession of controlled drugs, was tried and subsequently acquitted at the Crown court in 1985. He was initially awarded £15,000 costs against the police. A further £4,000 costs and £10,000 damages have since been awarded by the Metropolitan police in an out-of-court settlement. Metropolitan police budgeting arrangements have been changed since that time and so it is not now possible to assess accurately the cost of the operation.