Broadwater Farm (Hansard, 11 December 1989)

§ Mr. Bernie Grant
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report on the reasons why the inquiry, conducted by the Police Complaints Authority, into the Broadwater Farm disturbances of 1985 has taken two and half years to complete.

§ Mr. Peter Lloyd
Supervision of the investigation of complaints against the police is the responsibility of the Police Complaints Authority. The time elapsed is476W accounted for by the various stages in the process laid down in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. I understand that in this case the investigation, which was carried out by officers from the Metropolitan police under the supervision of the Police Complaints Authority, was extremely detailed and wide ranging. All the papers were considered by the Police Complaints Authority to ensure that the investigation had been carried out to their satisfaction, and by the Crown prosecution service to establish whether criminal charges should be brought against any police officer. There then followed further consideration by the Police Complaints Authority of the proposals relating to disciplinary proceedings.

§ Mr. Bernie Grant
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a date has yet been fixed for the disciplinary tribunal to hear charges against Detective Chief Superintendent Graham Melvin, arising out of his command of the Metropolitan police's investigation into the Broadwater Farm disturbances of 1985.

§ Mr. Peter Lloyd
I understand that no date has yet been set for the discipline hearing. The charges arose from the investigation into criticisms made by the judge at the trial of one of those arrested following the disturbances.

§ Mr. Bernie Grant
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis as to why no black or minority ethnic press or media were represented in the media group that accompanied the police on the raid on Broadwater Farm on 29 September; what plans the police have for inviting the non-white press and media to accompany them on such raids in future: and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Peter Lloyd
The planning of such operations is a matter for the commissioner and his senior colleagues. Invitations to the media are an important part of the commissioner's policy of encouraging greater public understanding of police operations, and are an example o f the accountability of the police to the public. Decisions on representation on individual operations are taken in the light of circumstances and with a view to effective coverage for all parts of the community.