HC Deb 03 August 1972 vol 842 cc177-8W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will call for a report from the chief constable as to whether, before appointing and promoting Mr. Ronald Larby to the rank of the detective inspector of police, investigations were made into his general character and his activities in Canada; and whether, when the investigation into charges under the police discipline code was held, these matters were investigated and taken into account before he was found guilty of discreditable conduct and disobedience of orders.

Mr. Carlisle

No.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will ascertain why the chief constable of the Essex and Southend-on-Sea Joint Constabulary did not consider it necessary for an investigation to be initiated by another police force into the case of Detective Inspector Ronald Larby.

Mr. Carlisle

The chief constable tells me that there were in his view no circumstances which made it desirable for the investigation to be carried out by an officer from another force.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that, while serving as a police officer, Detective Inspector Ronald Larby was found guilty of cohabiting with a serving prisoner's wife and of breaking and entering, that he had a previous unsatisfactory character, that he was charged and found guilty of offences of discreditable conduct and disobedience to orders, whether he will institute a further full inquiry by police outside Larby's force.

Mr. Carlisle

No. I would add that not all the assumptions implicit in the Question are correct.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he will not publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the letter sent to Mrs. K. Bruce of Brentwood, under date 17th June, 1972, signed by Deputy Chief Constable A. Goods, regarding the charge of Detective Inspector Ronald Larby cohabiting with a serving prisoner's wife; and whether he will place a copy of this in the Library of the House of Commons.

Mr. Carlisle

I see no reason in this instance why my right hon. Friend should make public the terms of other people's correspondence.