§ Mr. SedgemoreTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each year since 1985 the number of Metropolitan police officers who were charged with disciplinary offences following a successful civil action against the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis for a wrongful act by an officer; and, in respect of each charge, whether the offence was proved and what punishment was imposed.
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 9 March 1995]: From 1988 to 1994 the numbers of disciplinary charges following successful civil actions where the damages or settlement sum was in excess of £10,000 were as follows:
Year of successful civil action Number of cases 1988 0 1989 1 1990 2 1991 0 1992 3 1993 1 1994 1 Total 8
The breakdown of cases is as follows: Number of officers Substantiated/Not substantiated Outcome Case 1 (Includes one case from 1989 and one associated case from 1990) Eight officers involved in action, five had criminal proceedings brought against them Three officers Substantiated Dismissed Two officers Ancillary matter Substantiated Dismissed Three officers Not Substantiated Case 2 1990 One officer Ancillary matter Substantiated Reprimanded Case 3 1992 One officer Substantiated by PCA Tribunal Reprimanded Case 4 (Involves one case from 1992 and an associated case from 1994) Seven officers Substantiated Dismissed Case 5 1992 (three officers involved, one subject to formal disciplinary action)
Cost to establish £ Cost to operate £ Cost to publicise £ Calls received Date began Queen Ann's Gate 2,000 103,000 per annum Nil No record is kept 1976 Prison Service: (i) victim helpline 8,400 1,000 per annum Nil 27 per month 5 December 1994 (ii) prisoner location service n/a 5,700 per month Nil 5,000 per months pre 1970 Passport Agency offices (6) 200,000 1,000,000 per annum 25,000 per annum 2,100,000 per annum pre 1970 Immigration and Nationality Department (3) 93,500 543,000 Nil 3,800,000 (since points established) since 1988 Notes:
1. The costs for establishing the enquiry points relate to current equipment.
2. The figure of operating costs for the Prison Service's victim helpline reflects estimated monthly expenditure from mid-April onwards. [The scope for publicising the service is under consideration.]
The Department considers these inquiry points to be essential for the provision of information to the public. The scope for improving the service provided is kept under review.
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The breakdown of cases is as follows: Number of officers Substantiated/Not substantiated Outcome One officer Substantiated Dismissed Case 6 1993 One officer Substantiated Fined One officer Substantiated Cautioned Information prior to 1988 or where the settlement sum was less than £10,000 is not available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.