§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to give powers to the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland to allow it to supervise inquiries of its own volition. [23600]
§ Sir John WheelerThere are at present no plans to allow the commission to instigate the supervision of the investigation of a matter which is not the subject of a complaint. However, my right hon. and learned Friend announced on 29 March,Official Report, columns 659–61, that the commission will have the power to draw a non-complaint matter to his attention: he will then have the responsibility to refer appropriate cases to the commission for supervision. Draft legislation to give effect to this new power, the Police (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order, was published for consultation on 25 April 1995.