§ Mrs. LaitTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in respect of the evidence of how many Metropolitan police officers the prosecution has been required to disclose that evidence given by that officer had previously been discredited. [342731
§ Mr. MichaelThe Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that no central figures are kept on the number of cases where the prosecution has had to disclose that the evidence of an officer has on a previous occasion been discredited. Nevertheless, the Commissioner demands absolute integrity from his officers. If an officer gives evidence which raises concern with the trial magistrate or judge then they will direct that the matter be investigated. The procedure is for an internal investigation to be started. If, following such an investigation, the officer can be shown to be discredited then any cases in which the officer is subsequently involved would be reviewed by the Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service.