HC Deb 26 October 1989 vol 158 cc605-6W
16. Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

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 the decision to disband the serious crimes squad; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hurd

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Motherwell, South (Dr. Reid).

34. Mr. Meale

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the light of the recent decision to disband the West Midlands serious crimes squad, he will review convictions for serious crimes based wholly or mainly on confessions obtained from people in the custody of the West Midlands police.

47. Mr. Harry Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the chief constable of the West Midlands; and what matters were discussed.

65. Ms. Primarolo

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the light of the recent decision to disband the West Midlands serious crimes squad, he will review all convictions for serious crimes based wholly or mainly on confessions obtained in the custody of the West Midlands police.

66. Mr. Jim Marshall

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 the decision to disband the serious crimes squad; and if he will make a statement.

69. 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 the decision to disband the serious crimes squad; and if he will make a statement.

70. Ms. Short

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 the decision to disband the serious crimes squad; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

I refer the hon. Members to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Motherwell, South (Dr. Reid).

19. Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the case of the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings, in the light of recent evidence that officers of the West Midlands serious crimes squad have been forging confessions.

55. Mr. Grocott

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the case of the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings, in the light of recent evidence that officers of the West Midlands serious crimes squad have been forging confessions.

Mr. Hurd

I referred this case to the Court of Appeal on 20 January 1987 and after a thorough investigation by the Devon and Cornwall police, the court heard the case in November and December 1987. In its judgment, announced in January 1988, the court concluded that it had no doubt that the convictions were safe and satisfactory.

I am always ready to consider new evidence or other information which has not been before the courts and which appears to cast doubt on the safety of the conviction. We are in close touch with the Police Complaints Authority about the investigations into the allegations made about the West Midlands serious crime squad. If relevant information came to light in the course of the investigation, I should as I stated in the House on 19 October consider whether there were grounds to justify my further intervention in this or any other case.