§ Mr. SedgemoreTo ask the Attorney-General if he will place in the Library a copy of the(a) advice issued in August 1992 to chief officers of police by the Director of Public Prosecutions concerning the disclosure of police discipline records, pursuant to the case of R v. Edwards, and (b) practical instructions introduced in January 1993 concerning the same matter; and which advice and practical instructions were referred to in the Crown Prosecution Service's annual report for 1992–93 at paragraph 5.1. [27439]
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe guidance concerning the disclosure of police discipline records and the case of Rv. Edwards was issued on 5 October 1992 and is referred to in paragraph 5.3 of the Crown Prosecution Service's annual report for 1992–93 rather than paragraph 5.1 of the report which refers to the director's advice on disclosure matters generally. Its purpose was to ensure a consistent approach to the disclosure of potentially sensitive information about police officer's disciplinary records.
Advice given by the Director of Public Prosecutions to the police is usually treated as confidential. However, because of the interest and importance of this subject, the advice on these issues was circulated to professional bodies and others in the criminal justice system and I have placed a copy in the Library.
The practical instructions to CPS staff referred to at paragraph 5.1 of the report supplement the separate advice on disclosure matters generally. They are confidential.