Serious Fraud Office (Hansard, 12 November 1990)

Mr. John D. Taylor
To ask the Attorney-General if the Serious Fraud Office gives advance notice to the press and media of a proposed search in premises of a company.

§ The Attorney-General
No.
34W

Mr. John D. Taylor
To ask the Attorney-General what information he has as to how many employees of the Serious Fraud Office are of Greek Cypriot origin.

§ The Attorney-General
One employee within the Serious Fraud Office has ethnic origins within the Greek Cypriot community. That employee is not involved in the investigation into the affairs of Polly Peck International plc.

Mr. John D. Taylor
To ask the Attorney-General whether the Serious Fraud Office gave notice to the press and media of its search of the premises of Polly Peck International at Berkeley square, London on Tuesday 30 October.

§ The Attorney-General
No prior notice was given. Since the fact of the investigation was already in the public domain and the matter was one of substantial public interest, a short factual press notice was issued after the event.

Mr. John D. Taylor
To ask the Attorney-General if the Serious Fraud Office normally requests the support of the police when it proposes to raid the offices of companies.

§ The Attorney-General
Section 2(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 1987 requires that a search warrant issued on the application of the Serious Fraud Office should be directed to the police who are then responsible for its execution. The police should be accompanied by a member of the Serious Fraud Office or other appropriate person in accordance with section 2(6) and (7) of the 1987 Act.

Mr. John D. Taylor
To ask the Attorney-General whether the Serious Fraud Office had the full co-operation of the administrators of Polly Peck International on Tuesday 30 October; and why it requested the support of the Metropolitan police to carry out its raid of the company's office at Berkeley square on that date.

§ The Attorney-General
The Serious Fraud Office enjoys the co-operation of the administrators of Polly Peck International plc. The warrant in respect of the offices of Polly Peck International plc was directed to the Metropolitan police in accordance with the procedure set out in my earlier answer to the right hon. Gentleman.

Mr. John D. Taylor
To ask the Attorney-General how many persons are employed by the Serious Fraud Office.

§ The Attorney-General
A total of 132 people are currently employed by the Serious Fraud Office including temporary staff.