§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what charges have been made by the Lancet inquiry against the officer whose name has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement. [79412]
§ Mr. BoatengI have not been sent any names of officers by the Operation Lancet inquiry. No police officers have been charged with offences as a result of Operation Lancet Inquiry to date, but the inquiry is continuing and I understand that a number of possible criminal and disciplinary matters are still under investigation.
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the serving CID officers in Cleveland Police Force are under investigation in the Lancet inquiry; and if he will make a statement. [79409]
§ Mr. Boateng31 Cleveland CID Officers are under investigation in Operation Lancet. Of these, 8 are suspended, which equates to 4 per cent. of the Force CID strength. The other 23 CID officers have not been suspended and continue to perform their daily duties. The 11W duties of the suspended officers are being undertaken by other officers to ensure that the operational effectiveness of the CID is maintained.
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the number of person hours devoted to date to the Lancet inquiry regarding alleged police corruption in Cleveland; and if he will make a statement. [79410]
§ Mr. BoatengThe information requested on the number of person hours devoted to the Operation Lancet Inquiry is not readily available.
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 23 March 1999,Official Report, column 173, on the Lancet inquiry, if he will provide a breakdown of the costs of the inquiry; and if he will make a statement. [79588]
§ Mr. BoatengThe breakdown of costs is as follows:
£000 Cost of Cleveland Officers (salaries, etc) 692 Cost of Northamptonshire Officers (salaries, accommodation and subsistence) 426 Other expenditure (overtime, consumable stores, etc) 129 Total 1,247
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of that part of the Lancet inquiry known as the Redwood inquiry in terms of costs and number of police officers involved; and if he will make a statement. [79590]
§ Mr. BoatengThe "Redwood" inquiry is an on-going investigation and, for operational reasons, it would not be appropriate at this stage to make any further comment.
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the special inquiry taking place in the Cleveland police force. [79589]
§ Mr. BoatengI refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave him on 23 March 1999,Official Report, column 173.