§ Mr. AlisonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are expected to be taken to enhance the effectiveness of the new paedophile unit at the National Criminal Intelligence Service in the context of the possible disbanding of the obscence publications branch at Scotland Yard.
§ Mr. Charles WardleNo proposals about the future of the obscene publications branch have yet been made, but618W the Metropolitan police has given assurances that its work will continue whatever the recommendations of the current headquarters and specialist units' review.
The branch is an operational unit, responsible for the investigation of paedophile offences. The paedophile unit of the National Criminal Intelligence Service is a non-operational, national intelligence unit. The two units have different and distinct roles and it would not be appropriate for the National Criminal Intelligence Service to take on any operational functions from the branch.