§ Sir John FarrTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in theOfficial Report details of the guidance he gives to chief officers of police in dealing with correspondence from Members of Parliament, when a constituent has alleged assault.
§ Mr. Peter LloydNo general guidance is given to chief officers of police on handling correspondence from Members of Parliament.
Guidance on complaints and discipline procedures refers to correspondence from Members of Parliament with respect to the interpretation of section 84(4) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, which provides that a complaint may be made on behalf of a member of the public with his written consent. The guidance advises chief officers that, when a complaint is referred to the force by a third party, such as a Member of Parliament, any words which may reasonably be taken as indicating the complainant's willingness for his complaint to be so passed on should be taken as sufficient to indicate his consent for the purposes of section 84(4).