HC Deb 22 February 1973 vol 851 cc146-7W
Mr. Clinton Davis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many directives have been made by his Department pursuant to Section 49(1) of the Police Act 1964 in each of the years 1965 to 1972;

(2) how many directives have been made by his Department pursuant to Section 49(1) of the Police Act 1964 in each of the years 1965 to 1972 in the Metropolitan Police district.

Mr. Carlisle

None.

Mr. Clinton Davis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many complaints, concerning the conduct of the police were made to police authorities in England and Wales in each of the years 1965 to 1972; and how many such cases were investigated by officers of forces different from those in respect of which the complaints had been made;

(2) how many complaints concerning the conduct of the Metropolitan Police were made to that force in each of the years 1965 to 1972; and how many such cases were investigated by officers of forces different from that in respect of which the complaints had been made.

Mr. Carlisle

The information is as follows:

Mr. Clinton Davis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in how many cases, following complaints made regarding police conduct in England and Wales, reasons for the rejection or acceptance of complaints were communicated to the complainant in each of the years 1965 to 1972;

(2) in how many cases, following complaints made regarding police conduct in the metropolitan area, reasons for the rejection or acceptance of complaints were communicated to the complainant in each of the years 1965 to 1972;

(3) in how many cases in England and Wales were the findings of officers investigating complaints pursuant to the Police Act 1964 rejected by the chief officers of the force to which the complaint related;

(4) in how many cases in the metropolitan area were the findings of officers investigating complaints pursuant to the Police Act 1964 rejected by the Commissioner of Police or other chief officer of the force to which the complaint related.

Mr. Carlisle

This information is not readily available.

Mr. Clinton Davis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the 1,212 cases of complaint remitted from the Director of Public Prosecutions to the Metropolitan Police were dealt with by the police under the ordinary complaints procedure; and if he will set out in tabular form in the OFFICIAL REPORT the results of such further investigations.

Mr. Carlisle

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the 1,212 cases in 1971 in which the Director of Public Prosecutions recommended no criminal proceedings. These cases had already been investigated and referred to the Director under Section 49(3) of the Police Act 1964. No further investigation under the complaints procedure would therefore be necessary; but disciplinary proceedings were instituted in 41 cases, involving 56 officers, with the following results:

Required to resign 8
Other disciplinary punishments 46
Not guilty 1
Not proceeded with (officer allowed to retire) 1