§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the working of the Home Office consolidated circular to the police on crime and kindred matters concerning incitement or procurement of the commission of a crime, in the light of the events surrounding the arrest of Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Tibbetts.
§ Mr. WhitelawI am not aware of any need to revise the existing guidance to chief officers of police on this subject.
§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will request a report from the chief constable of the West Yorkshire police on the circumstances leading to the arrest and prosecution of Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Tibbetts on 25 August 1976.
§ Mr. WhitelawI understand from the chief constable of the West Yorkshire metropolitan police that complaints against members of his force made by Mr. and Mrs. Tibbetts in connection with their arrest and prosecution in 1976 have been dealt with in accordance with the statutory procedures for the investigation and consideration of such complaints. It would not be appropriate for me to516W intervene in matters which under the law are the responsibility of the chief constable, the Director of Public Prosecutions and, in relation to complaints about incidents occurring on or after 1st June 1977, the Police Complaints Board, or to call for a report about them.