§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for(a) the Metropolitan police force, (b) the south-east regional crime squad and (c) the National Criminal Intelligence Service, for each of the last 10 years (i) how many officers were investigated for corruption, (ii) for how long officers under investigation were suspended, broken down by three-month intervals, (iii) the outcome of the investigation and (iv) how many officers investigated for corruption resigned their position (1) while suspended and (2) within a year of investigations being completed or discontinued. [6689]
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 2 December 1996]Information on the number of officers investigated for corruption is not available for the period requested as records were not kept by type of allegation.
Table 1 sets out, from 1990 onwards, the numbers of Metropolitan police officers who were suspended for corruption, and the breakdown of the length of the suspension. Table 1 also gives details of the outcome of the investigations, including the numbers of those under investigation who were required to resign or who resigned from the service before their case was heard by a disciplinary board.
The information requested at iv. (2) is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The National Criminal Intelligence Service was formed on 1 April 1992 and the south-east regional crime squad was formed on 1 April 1993. Police officers are seconded to these organisations from the Metropolitan police service and from provincial forces. The responsibility for the conduct of any criminal or disciplinary investigation and, if appropriate, for the suspension of seconded officers rests with an officer's home force. Figures for NCIS and SERCS are included, therefore, within the Metropolitan police service figures. I understand that there have been no other corruption investigations or suspensions relating to officers seconded to these organisations from other forces.
595W
Table 1: Metropolitan police officers suspended for corruption 1990 to 1996 Year 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 so far Number of officers 1 2 2 13 2 0 2 Number of months on suspension 1–3 months 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3–6 months 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 6–9 months 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 9–12 months 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1–2 years 0 1 0 13 1 0 0 Still suspended 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 Final outcome Reinstated 1 1 0 11 1 0 0 Dismissed 0 1 1 11 0 0 0 Required to resign 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 Resigned before board 0 0 0 11 0 0 0 1These figures are made up of two officers from the Regional Crime Squad and one from NCIS. The NCIS officer was reinstated and of the Regional Crime Squad officers one resigned, the other was dismissed.
§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many investigations into allegations of corruption involving officers(a) of the Metropolitan police, (b) serving with the the National Criminal Intelligence Service and (c) serving with the south-east regional crime squad have been (i) started and (ii) concluded in each of the past 10 years and in the current year. [6691]
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 2 December 19961Tables 1(i) and 1(ii) set out the numbers of investigations into allegations of corrupt practice against Metropolitan police officers arising from complaints from members of the public or arising from internal sources or internal investigations into corrupt practice, and the outcome of the investigations.
The National Criminal Intelligence Service was formed 1 April 1992 and the south-east regional crime squad was set up on 1 April 1993. Police officers are seconded to
Table 1(i): Complaints from the public of corrupt practice against Metropolitan police officers between 1987 and 1996 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1st half 1996 Cases recorded 28 53 45 44 39 34 25 35 19 11 Allegations completed 34 40 33 28 26 24 27 54 40 24 Informal resolutions 0 5 5 3 5 3 0 6 3 0 Withdrawn 16 13 12 8 7 8 6 12 8 5 Dispensations granted 3 4 2 2 3 4 8 10 13 7 Unsubstantiated 11 17 13 13 10 7 11 26 15 11 Substantiated 4 1 1 2 1 2 2 0 1 1 596W these organisations from the Metropolitan police service and from provincial forces. The responsibility for the conduct of any criminal or disciplinary investigation and, if appropriate, the suspension of seconded officers, rests with an officer's home force. Figures for NCIS and SERCS are included, therefore within the Metropolitan police service figures. I understand that there have been no other corruption investigations or allegations relating to officers seconded to these organisations from other forces.
Table 1(ii): Internal Investigations into corrupt practice against Metropolitan police officers 1994 to 1996 1994 1995 1st Half 1996 Cases recorded 51 58 27 Allegations completed 34 40 27 Not substantiated 18 26 7 Substantiated 16 14 20 Table 1(i) and 1(ii) give figures from 1987 and 1994 onwards. Figures before these years are not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. A recorded case may include more than one allegation. In general terms, because of the nature of the investigations, an investigated case is unlikely to be completed in the year in which it is recorded.
Previous to 1994 computer records of internal investigations were not held, so reliable figures cannot be collected without reference to the original files.