§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the number of complaints against the police alleging assault for each year since 1970; in how many cases each year the procurator fiscal recommended prosecution; what percentage is this each year of total complaints; in how many cases each year prosecution led to conviction; what was the range of penalties imposed each year on convicted police officers; and how many police officers were subject each 311W year to each penalty within the range of penalties.
§ Mr. Rifkind[pursuant to his reply, 16 January 1980, c. 745–46]: I do not have the information prior to 16 May 1975. The following table provides information from that date up to 31 December 1979. Complaints alleging assault by the police, as with any report or allegation from which it may reasonably be inferred that a police officer has committed a criminal offence, must be re
1975 (from 16 May) 1976 1977 1978 1979 (a) Complaints alleging assault 358 540 614 681 610 (b) Cases which led to prosecution 12 17 7 8 61 (c) Percentage of total (b) to total (a) 3.35 3.15 1.14 1.17 0.98 (d) Convictions 62 9 2 3 03 (e) Range of Penalties Admonished-£150 Fine Admonished-£40 Fine £20 Fine-£50 Fine £20 Fine-£100 Fine Nil (f) Number of Police Officers subject to each Penalty:—Admonished 1 2 — — — £5 Fine — 2 — — — £15 Fine 1 — — — — £20 Fine 1 1 1 1 — £30 Fine 1 — — — — £40 Fine — 2 — — — £50 Fine 1 2 1 — — £100 Fine — — — 2 — £150 Fine 1 — — — — Notes:— 1–4 cases pending trial 2–3 officers given an absolute discharge 3—1 officer given an obsolute discharge