HC Deb 17 December 1996 vol 287 c523W
Mr. McFall

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the standard disciplinary procedures for his Department's police force; who is the nominated disciplinary officer; and who deputises in the absence of the nominated disciplinary officer. [8935]

Mr. Soames

This is a matter for the chief constable/chief executive of the Ministry of Defence Police. I have asked the chief constable/chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from W.E.E. Boreham to Mr. John McFall, dated 17 December 1996: I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about disciplinary procedures within the Ministry of Defence Police, as this falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Constable/Chief Executive of the Ministry of Defence Police Agency. The Ministry of Defence Police (Discipline) Regulations 1985, (as amended 1988) are based on the Home Office Police Discipline Regulations. The Deputy Chief Constable is responsible for deciding the level of disciplinary action to be taken in complaints against police and reported disciplinary matters. If it is decided by the Deputy Chief Constable that formal disciplinary proceedings by way of a hearing are required, the officer(s) will appear before either the Chief Constable or a nominated Assistant Chief Constable depending on the seriousness of the matters complained of, and the levels of punishment thought appropriate. However, all complaints against police matters in England and Wales are referred to the independent Police Complaints Authority in the same way as for all other Home Department Police Forces. Complaints matters in Scotland are dealt with in exactly the same way as those considered by Scottish Chief Constables with their Forces. There is no provision in Scotland for an independent body for complaints against the police other than Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (Scotland) to whom a complainant may refer if dissatisfied with the Chief Constable's decision. In Northern Ireland complaints are referred to the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland.