§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 9 February,Official Report, column 37, if he will make a statement about what he has learnt from the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis about the police investigation into the assault upon Mr. Quddus Ali; what admissions to the police to taking part in the attack were discovered by that investigation; what the police did with such an admission;and if he will summarise the representations he has received and how he has responded.
§ Mr. MacleanThe commissioner has kept my right hon. and learned Friend informed of the progress of the156W police investigation into the assault upon Mr. Quddus Ali. I understand that 25 police officers were assigned to the investigation and that a special incident room was set up. Appeals for witnesses produced a good response. Nine people were arrested. One was brought to trial on a charge of affray and was acquitted. I understand that no admissions to having taken part in the assault were received by the police from any person during the course of the investigation.
On 4 November 1994, my right hon. and learned Friend received a letter from the parents of Mr. Ali raising a number of issues, some concerning the handling of racial attacks in general, others specific to the case of their son. This letter was also signed by some 900 local residents. My noble Friend Baroness Blatch responded to the points which were made. A letter was also received through the Prime Minister's office from Mr. Ali, to which my noble Friend replied. A letter was received from a member of the public which was replied to at official level.