§ Mr. MallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) in how many cases to date of complaints made under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987 the Independent144W Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland has directed that disciplinary tribunals be set up under article 14 of the order;
(2) in how many cases to date of complaints made under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987 the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland directed the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary to prefer disciplinary charges against members of the police service;
(3) in how many cases of complaints brought to date under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987 the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland directed the Chief Constable to send reports to the Director of Public Prosecutions as empowered under articles of the order;
(4) in how many cases to date of complaints made under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987 the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland has expressed dissatisfaction with the way in which the investigation was conducted;
(5) how many cases to date have in the public interest been referred to the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland by (a) the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and (b) the Northern Ireland police authority, under section 8 of the Police (N.I.) Order 1987;
(6) how many cases to date, which have not been the subject of formal complaint, have been referred to the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland under section 8 of the Police (N.I.) Order 1987;
(7) in how many instances to date the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland has been asked by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for reports relating to its functions, other than the report supplied at the end of each calendar year.
§ Mr. Ian Stewart[holding answer 5 May 1989]: The answer to each of these questions is none.
§ Mr. MallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in how many cases to date of complaints made under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987 the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland recommended to the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary that disciplinary charges should be preferred against members of the police service.
§ Mr. Ian Stewart[holding answer 5 May 1989]: Twenty.
§ Mr. MallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in how many cases of complaints made to date under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987 against junior officers the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary has determined that a criminal offence was committed; and in how many of these the Chief Constable determined that charges ought to be brought.
§ Mr. Ian Stewart[holding answer 5 May 1989]: It is not the function of the Chief Constable either to determine that offences have been committed or that charges should be brought. He is, however, able to determine that a criminal offence may have been committed by police officers and that the officers ought to be charged. It is then his duty to send the appropriate papers to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The available information does not indicate in how many cases he has referred papers to the director since the 1987 order came into force.
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§ Mr. MallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in how many cases to date of complaints made under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987 the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland has disapproved of the person appointed to carry out the investigation.
§ Mr. Ian Stewart[holding answer 5 May 1989]: Two.
§ Mr. MallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in how many cases to date of complaints made under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987 the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland has decided, in the public interest, to supervise the investigation where not required to do so under articles 9(I) and 8(I) of the order.
§ Mr. Ian Stewart[holding answer 5 May 1989]: Ninety-nine.
§ Mr. MallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in how many cases of complaints involving serious injury made to date, under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987, the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland has supervised the investigation.
§ Mr. Ian Stewart[holding answer 5 May 1989]: Seventy-four.
§ Mr. MallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints made to date under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987 have been investigated by the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland under section 9 of the order.
§ Mr. Ian Stewart[holding answer 5 May 1989]: Article 9 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 deals with the supervisory powers of the Independent Commission for Police Complaints. To date 173 cases have been supervised under the provisions of article 9.
§ Mr. MallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many complaints have been made to date under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987 against officers below the rank of superintendent; and how many of these have been investigated(a) informally and (b) formally;
(2) how many complaints have been made to date under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987 against officers of the rank of superintendent and above; and how many of these have been investigated (a) informally and (b) formally.
§ Mr. Ian Stewart[holding answer 5 May 1989]: Information is not available in the form requested. However, since the commencement of the Police (NI) Order 1987 on 29 February 1988 there were 2,809 complaints against police officers below the rank of assistant chief constable. Of these, 752 have been withdrawn; 128 informally resolved and 1,929 have been or are at present being formally investigated.
§ Mr. MallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints made to date under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987 have been investigated formally by(a) members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary appointed to do so and (b) members of our United Kingdom police forces.
§ Mr. Ian Stewart[holding answer 5 May 1989]: I understand that 1,929 complaints have been or are at 146W present being formally investigated by members of the RUC. No complaints have been investigated by members of other United Kingdom police forces.
§ Mr. MallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of complaints made to date under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987 have been deemed suitable for informal resolution by the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
§ Mr. Ian Stewart[holding answer 5 May 1989]: I understand that 128 complaints have been found suitable for informal resolution since February 1988.
§ Mr. MallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints made to date under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987 have been referred by the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary to the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland for investigation.
§ Mr. Ian Stewart[holding answer 5 May 1989]: The investigation of complaints is a police responsibility. The Independent Commission for Police Complaints has wide supervisory powers in relation to complaints. To date 2,446 complaints have been referred by the Chief Constable to the commission.
§ Mr. MallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints made to date under the Police (NJ.) Order 1987, have been adjudicated upon by the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
§ Mr. Ian Stewart[holding answer 5 May 1989]: The Chief Constable has not himself chaired any disciplinary hearings arising from complaints made under the order.