HC Deb 01 July 1992 vol 210 c551W
Mr. John Morris

To ask the Attorney-General what principles the director of the Serious Fraud Office applies on the execution of a warrant for arrest; and whether he will make a statement on the arrest of Mr. Ian Maxwell and Mr. Kevin Maxwell.

The Attorney-General

It is the policy of the Serious Fraud Office to procure the arrest of persons suspected of serious fraud with the assistance of the police. The process of arrest is an operational matter for the police who will decide questions of timing, whereabouts and related matters as part of their operational duties. Where police are conducting investigations in conjunction with the Serious Fraud Office, they may be advised, but not directed, on such matters by the SFO. Such advice will have regard to the seriousness of the alleged offences, the need to secure evidence at the time of the arrest and any circumstances material to the risk that a suspect may seek to abscond, including the likelihood that such suspect may have the means and ability to do so and to support himself outside the jurisdiction. Each case will be considered impartially on its merits.

Ian Maxwell, Kevin Maxwell and Larry Trachtenburg were arrested without warrant on suspicion of having committed the offences for which they have subsequently been charged. Similar principles govern both the execution of warrants of arrest issued by the courts and arrest without warrant.