§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the compliance by the Metropolitan Police with his Department's circular on pre-inquest disclosure to families of persons who have died in police custody in(a) the Roger Sylvester case and (b) other cases; and if he will make a statement. [100846]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeNo general assessment of compliance has yet been made. The circular was issued on 28 April 1999 and it remains our intention to review the implementation of the guidance after it has been in operation for a year.
My understanding from the information available to me is that the Metropolitan Police are complying with the circular. The Crown Prosecution Service is considering whether criminal proceedings relating to the death of Mr. Sylvester are appropriate. The circular states that 500W disclosure should not take place until either the Crown Prosecution Service has advised against a prosecution of proceedings are complete.