HC Deb 09 February 2004 vol 417 cc1428-30W
Mr. Streeter

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with chief constables concerning the impact on staff morale of long-term suspensions and investigations of police officers. [152447]

Ms Blears

There have been discussions on suspensions in which staff morale was raised but the main features of those discussions were to do with the operational and public interest needs of keeping an officer suspended. Such discussions related to the operation of the power to suspend police officers under the Police (Conduct) Regulations 1999 and the supporting guidance and were conducted within a subgroup of the Police Advisory Board for England and Wales. The Association of Chief Police Officers is represented on this sub-group as are the Superintendents' Association and the Police Federation. As a result of discussions held, the guidance on suspension was amended in November 2003 in a number of respects including a requirement to ensure that the continuing need for suspension is subject to, at least, monthly reviews.

There have been no discussions concerning the impact on staff morale of the investigation of police officers. Staff morale is a matter for the chief constable and his human resources department. Every officer who is suspended has the support of the staff associations and access to the force staff welfare department.

Mr. Streeter

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average(a) time and (b) cost of the suspension of police officers in England and Wales where complaints were made against them was in the latest period for which figures are available. [152452]

Ms Blears

Information concerning the(a) time and (b) cost of the suspension of police officers in England and Wales is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. I cannot therefore provide the average requested.

Mr. Streeter

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he makes of the(a) cash costs of complaints against police officers and (b) the length of time they take to resolve when determining the budget of each police authority. [152454]

Ms Blears

No central assessment is made of the cash costs of complaints against police officers. This is a matter for individual police authorities and forces.

The budget of each police force is a matter for each police authority. The funding formula used as the basis for allocating Home Office police grant to police authorities takes into account general operational needs, but does not specifically address complaints investigation costs.

Mr. Streeter

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the costs of the suspension by Devon and Cornwall Constabulary of Stuart Elford, identifying the(a) associated legal fees, (b) cost of the investigation and (c) cost of the involvement of the Police Complaints Authority. [152455]

Ms Blears

Devon and Cornwall Constabulary have advised that Stuart Elford was paid £57,500 in salary and housing allowance during the period of his suspension. I am also advised that(a) no external legal fees were incurred by Devon and Cornwall Constabulary during the course of the investigation; (b) the estimated cost of the investigation was £6,500; and (c) the Police Complaints Authority do not cost their involvement in individual investigations.

Police officer strength1
March
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 20032
Avon and Somerset 2,989 2,976 2,999 2,934 2,994 3,096 3,149
Bedfordshire 1,094 1,079 1,041 1,028 1,036 1,069 1,106
Cambridgeshire 1,302 1,291 1,274 1,237 1,296 1,362 1,384
Cheshire 2,046 2,042 2,071 2,011 2,002 2,059 2,119
Cleveland 1,459 1,483 1,416 1,404 1,407 1,461 1,582
Cumbria 1,144 1,164 1,126 1,084 1,048 1,100 1,140
Derbyshire 1,791 1,772 1,759 1,777 1,823 1,848 2,003
Devon and Cornwall 2,865 2,962 2,887 2,841 2,934 3,053 3,202
Dorset 1,284 1,310 1,279 1,306 1,354 1,381 1,416
Durham 1,461 1,515 1,568 1,558 1,595 1,614 1,651
Essex 2,961 2,928 2,891 2,806 2,897 2,946 2,989
Gloucestershire 1,133 1,104 1,104 1,114 1,173 1,183 1,227
Greater Manchester 6,922 6,949 6,810 6,795 6,909 7,217 7,343
Hampshire 3,452 3,490 3,473 3,419 3,438 3,480 3,668

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