§ Sir John WheelerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received a report from the Police Complaints Authority on their supervision of the investigation of the West Midlands serious crimes squad; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerI have received a report from the Police Complaints Authority made under section 97(2) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 which I am required to lay before Parliament and publish under section 97(5) of the Act. Copies of this report have been placed in the Library and will be made available by my Department to anyone seeking a copy.
In August 1989 the chief constable of the West Midlands police disbanded the serious crimes squad and asked Mr. Shaw, an assistant chief constable of West Yorkshire police, to conduct an investigation into its activities. At the same time he invited the Police Complaints Authority to supervise the investigation under section 88 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. The Police Complaints Authority has issued a statement in accordance with section 89(10) of the Act confirming that the investigation has been conducted to its satisfaction.
The Police Complaints Authority report falls into two parts. The first part describes the investigation of complaints relating to cases handled by the serious crimes squad. The main investigation covered the period between 1 January 1986 and the disbandment of the squad. In that period 694 arrests were recorded in the serious crimes squad's arrest book. Seventy of the people arrested as well as 16 other people, made complaints to the investigating officer. Complaints from 11 people relating to the period between 29 April 1984 and 1 January 1986 were also investigated. One case was subsequently withdrawn.
The 1984 Act requires that the report on any complaint against a police officer where criminal behaviour may have taken place must be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions. All the complaints just mentioned have therefore been so referred but the fact of referral does not imply that criminal offences have necessarily been committed. It is for the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide whether or not the evidence suggests that any criminal proceedings should be taken.
The second part of the PCA report describes management practices prevalent during the period in question which may have contributed to the problems described. I am glad to be able to report to the House that these management practices have already been addressed by the chief constable of the West Midlands, in consultation with the west midlands police authority. A copy of a report which he has sent to me describing the action which has already been taken has been placed in the Library with the report of the Police Complaints 2W Authority for the information of hon. Members. Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary will be monitoring the action taken in respect of all the points raised.
Decisions as to whether any disciplinary action would be appropriate in respect of particular officers cannot be taken until the Crown Prosecution Service has completed its consideration of the possibility of criminal charges.