HC Deb 05 July 1989 vol 156 cc192-4W
Mr. Mullin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands as to what breaches of discipline have been alleged against Superintendent James Kelly; and what action has been taken.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I understand from the chief constable of the West Midlands police that in October 1986 Detective Superintendent Kelly was charged with four offences of discreditable conduct and was reprimanded on each charge. He was not a member of the serious crime squad.

Mr. Mullin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands as to on how many occasions complaints have been received against Detective Sergeant Michael Hornby; and what action has been taken in each case.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I understand from the chief constable of the West Midlands police that a number of complaints have been recorded against detective sergeant Hornby since 1974. All the complaints have been fully investigated. In only one instance, in 1980, did he face formal disciplinary proceedings. Disciplinary records are destroyed after seven years.

Mr. Mullin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands as to during which years Detective Sergeant Brian Morton and Detective Constables Martin Lambert and Graham Stephens were members of the West Midlands serious crime squad.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I understand from the chief constable of the West Midlands police that detective sergeant Morton was a member of the serious crime squad from March 1973 until February 1976. Detective constables Lambert and Stephen were not members of the serious crime squad.

Mr. Mullin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands as to how many of the officers involved in investigations into the Paul Dandy case were also involved in questioning those later convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I understand from the chief constable of the West Midlands police that no officer was involved in the Paul Dandy case and also in questioning of those later convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings.

Mr. Mullin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands as to how many of the officers involved in investigations into the case of Mr. Ronnie Boldon were involved in questioning those later convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I understand from the chief constable of the West Midlands police that one officer was involved in the Ronnie Boldon case and also in questioning of those later convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings.

Mr. Mullin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands as to what action was taken against the police officers responsible for assaulting junior Patrick Williams in connection with attempts to procure a confession.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I understand from the chief constable of the West Midlands police that three officers were convicted at Birmingham crown court on 1 November 1983 of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Detective sergeant Morton was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment (six months suspended for two years). Detective constables Stephen and Lambert were sentenced to nine months imprisonment (four and a half months suspended for two years). The officers subsequently faced disciplinary proceedings and were dismissed from the force on 4 November 1983.

Mr. Mullin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands as to how many complaints have been received against officers of the West Midlands serious crime squad for each year since 1979; and what action has been taken in each case.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I understand form the chief constable of the West Midlands police that this information is not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Mullin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands on what action was taken against the officers responsible for obtaining a confession from Mr. Derek Gordon for a murder of which he was subsequently acquitted.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I understand from the chief constable of the West Midlands police that an investigation into Mr. Gordon's complaint was conducted by a senior officer of the Metropolitan police in 1985 under the supervision of the Police Complaints Authority. Two officers were subsequently charged with disciplinary offences and were fined. Other officers were given advice by their supervisory officers in connection with unsatisfactory standards of documentation.

Mr. Mullin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands as to how many of the officers involved in investigations into the case of Derek Gordon were also involved in questioning those later convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I understand from the chief constable of the West Midlands police that two officers were involved in the Derek Gordon case and also in the questioning of those later convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings.

Mr. Mullin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands as to how long police cadet Adrian Dart remained in the force after testifying against three of his colleagues convicted of trying to extort confessions by violence.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I understand from the chief constable of the West Midlands police that police constable Dart resigned from the West Midlands police force four months after three officers were convicted in November 1983 of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.