§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police officers are involved in conducting the investigation led by Chief Constable Peter Wright into allegations about police corruption made in a television programme in November 1986;
(2) what reasons were given to him by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis for the suspension of Detective Superintendent Anthony Lundy from the Metropolitan police in July; which police force has been designated to investigate the matter; and when a report on the case is expected.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe commissioner is not required to consult my right hon. Friend before he suspends one of his officers and did not do so before Mr. Lundy was suspended. I understand, however, that the decision to suspend was based on the report received in July 1987 of an internal inquiry conducted by the Metropolitan police. That report was made available to Mr. Peter Wright, chief constable of the South Yorkshire police, so that account could be taken of it in the wider investigation which he was conducting into allegations made in a television programme. The size of Mr. Wright's investigating team has varied, in accordance with the extent and complexity of the inquiries being conducted at any particular time, from 18 officers to four. His investigation has been conducted under the supervision of the independent Police Complaints Authority.