§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the public admission by the former Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that there were and are very many more police in the force who have committed illegalities and that he refrained from initiating proceedings, whether he will have an independent investigation into all aspects of the wrongdoings as publicly admitted by Sir Robert Mark.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, following action taken by Sir Robert Mark while Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis, he is satisfied that every effort has been made to ensure that there are no officers serving in the force who have committed criminal offences in the past.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI am satisfied that every effort has been and continues to be made to ensure that high standards of conduct are maintained in the Metropolitan Police.
As regards criminal offences, it is the Commissioner's policy to cause a report to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions on every occasion that there is any evidence, however slight, to suggest that a serving police officer has committed any criminal offence. Thereafter action is taken according to the advice of the Director. In all the circumstances, therefore, I do not feel any additional investigation would be appropriate.