§ Gillian MerronTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure that investigatory reports into the running of police authorities are made public. [31587]
§ Mr. MichaelThere is a general requirement for reports by Commissioners for Local Administration into complaints of maladministration by police authorities to be made publicly available under the Local Government Act 1974. However, the Local Commissioner concerned may direct that a report shall not be made available to the public if the Commissioner considers that it would not be in the public interest and the interests of the complainant and others to do so.
The Government are considering extending the range of information available to the public generally. Our proposals were set out in the White Paper "Your Right to Know" which was issued for consultation on 11 December 1997.
§ Gillian MerronTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many investigations have been undertaken by outside police authorities into other authorities in each of the past five years; and what was the estimated cost of each investigation. [31592]
§ Mr. MichaelI am not aware of any such investigations in the last five years. Outside forces carry out investigations into other forces, usually at the request of the police authority for the force of being investigated or that force itself. However, comprehensive information on the number of any such investigations and on their cost is not held centrally.
§ Gillian MerronTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the handling of grievances made by serving police officers, by police authorities; and what steps he intends to take to ensure that there is consistency across police authorities. [31588]
§ Mr. MichaelThe management of individual grievances and the provision of effective procedures is a matter for chief constables within the balance of tripartite responsibilities for the management of the police service. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary review police force personnel procedures as part of their Inspection 309W programme, and if Her Majesty's Inspector was dissatisfied with their adequacy, the issue would be drawn to the attention of the chief constable for remedial action.