HC Deb 16 April 1985 vol 77 cc130-1W
Mr. Chris Smith

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the libel actions brought by senior police officers in the past three years with his Department's consent, in which the Metropolitan police have assumed responsibility for the plaintiffs' legal costs; which of such libel actions are in respect of serving police officers, and which are in respect of police officers who have left the Metropolitan police before the concluion of libel actions; which firms of solicitors are employed to conduct such cases, and in the case of the Metropolitan police solicitor, how many members of his Department are involved in the preparation of such cases; what criteria he or the Metropolitan police employ when negotiating out of-court cash settlements in such cases; what cash settlements have been received by serving or former police officers as a result of such actions; and what legal costs have been incurred in each of the last three years by the Metropolitan police in respect of both concluded and current libel actions of this kind, including solicitor-and own-client costs not recoverable from the defendant.

Mr. Giles Shaw

The Metropolitan police require the consent of my right hon. and learned Friend to assume responsibility for the legal costs of any police officer who brings an action for libel. Since 1 January 1982 only one such action has been brought by a Metropolitan police officer. It was brought by Deputy Assistant Commissioner Powis, who has since retired, againstThe Observer. The preparation of that case is in the hands of the Metropolitan police solicitors department, and occupies a small part of the time of one solicitor and one higher executive officer, with typing assistance. Legal costs incurred by the Metropolitan police in this case including solicitor and own client costs are estimated to be £5,700. Negotiations for settlement of this and other cases of this kind take into account the advice of counsel.

Since 1 January 1982, two other cases have been settled: that brought by Commander Stockwell against the New Statesman and others in 1981 in which the defendants agreed in court to pay damages and full costs; and that of Assistant Commissioner Kelland and Assistant Commissioner Gibson against The Times, which was settled out of court, no action having been brought, for a sum in damages and full costs.