Mrs. Cherry Groce

HC Deb 26 January 1987 vol 109 cc22-3W

Mr. Stuart

Holland asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the Metropolitan Police Commissioner as to how much alcohol Inspector Lovelock had been drinking within the time limits proscribed by Metropolitan police regulations before the search operation which led to the shooting of Mrs. Cherry Groce;

(2) if he will call for a report from the Metropolitan Police Commissioner as to what hours had been worked by Inspector Lovelock on the day before the shooting of Mrs. Cherry Groce; and how many hours this constituted over and above a normal working day;

(3) if he will call for a report from the Metropolitan Police Commissioner as to whether a shotgun recovered by police prior to the search operation which led to the shooting of Mrs. Cherry Groce was (a) known to have been used by, and (b) presumed to have belonged to, Michael Groce; and what information was available on these matters to (i) Inspector Lovelock or (ii) other relevant officers before the search of her home which led to the shooting of Mrs. Cherry Groce;

(4) if he will call for a report from the Metropolitan Police Commissioner as to on what evidence or basis it was assumed that Michael Groce would be in his mother's home at the time of the search operation; and on how many occasions he had been seen or known to use the premises of her home before the search operation which led to the shooting of Mrs. Cherry Groce;

(5) if he will call for a report from the Metropolitan Police Commissioner as to whether he will publish the Metropolitan police inquiry's report concerning the role and behaviour of Inspector Lovelock in the events which led to the shooting of Mrs. Cherry Groce.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The Police Complaints Authority has approved the proposal of the chief constable of Hertfordshire that nine Hertfordshire officers who were involved in the investigation of which the raid on Mrs. Groce's home formed part should be charged with disciplinary offences. Following Inspector Lovelock's trial, the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis will shortly submit proposals to the Police Complaints Authority on whether disciplinary charges should be brought against any of his officers. It would be wrong for me to intervene at this stage on matters which could be at issue in disciplinary proceedings.