§ 33. Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints of unlawful behaviour were received against policemen in the Metropolitan Area in 1967 and in 1968; and whether he will consider seeking to amend the Police Act, 1964, under which police are allowed to investigate complaints made against themselves, so as to arrange for independent investigation of such complaints.
§ Mr. Elystan Morgan1,167 complaints were received in 1967, and 1,344 in 1968, alleging that criminal offences, most of them assault and driving offences, had been committed by Metropolitan police officers. The Royal Commission on the Police, which reported in 1962, proposed the main features of the system for dealing with complaints which is embodied in the Police Act, 1964. My right hon. Friend is keeping the working of the procedures under close review but he has at present no proposals for amending legislation.