HC Deb 09 February 1988 vol 127 cc137-8W
Sir Eldon Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to which police forces keep records of complaints against police officers that are unsubstantiated; and why some of these forces are proposing to transfer to police officers' personal records such unsubstantiated material.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Regulation 12 of the Police (Complaints) (General) Regulations 1985 requires all chief officers of police to keep a register of complaints against members of his force and this records the outcome of all such complaints.

The contents of a police officer's personal record are determined by regulation 19 of the Police Regulations 1987; they do not include records of unsubstantiated complaints against the officer concerned. We have no information to suggest that forces are failing to comply with this regulation or are proposing to ignore it. But personnel management considerations suggest that a chief officer should make arrangements to be aware of the complaints attracted by individual members of his force. Such arrangements are a matter for the chief officer concerned.

Sir Eldon Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he is proposing that police officers personal records shall be expanded to include material at present included only in divisional discipline books.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

We have made no such proposal.