§ 27. Mr. Norman Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now announce his intended budget for the total cost of the Metropolitan police for 1986–87.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Mr. Wheeler) on Tuesday 18 February, at column125.
§ Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the present number and percentage of metropolitan police officers currently employed in the drug squad in (a) London and (b) the Metropolitan police area.
§ Mr. Giles ShawOn 31 January 1986 the strength of the Metropolitan police central drugs squad was 57–some 0.2 per cent. of the total force strength of 26,870. The squad is responsible for major drugs investigations throughout the 40 boroughs and districts which comprise the Metropolitan police district. Other drugs offences are dealt with by officers at divisional level either as part of normal duties or in small units set up from time to time to respond to particular localised problems; I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Newham, North West (Mr. Banks) on 13 January, at column459.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown by district of the civil cases initiated by members of the public against alleged wrongful acts of police officers in the Metropolitan police for 1985.
§ Mr. Giles ShawA breakdown by police district of the 175 such cases initiated during 1985 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the amounts paid in out-of-court settlements of claims arising from alleged wrongful acts of Metropolitan police officers in 1985; what were the amounts paid under awards made by courts in similar cases in 1985; and what was the number of cases initiated in 1985 and the number concluded.
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§ Mr. Giles ShawThe total amount paid in 1985 by the Metropolitan police in settlement of claims arising from allegations of misconduct by police officers (whether or not formal proceedings were instituted) was £193,588. The total amount paid by the force under awards made by the courts in similar cases during 1985 was £13,949. The number of civil actions initiated against the force in 1985 was 175, and the number disposed of was 68.