HC Deb 26 June 1997 vol 296 cc584-5W
Mr. Miller

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will re-examine the case of Paul Malone; if he will make a statement on the reasons for the retirement of three police officers referred to by the Police Complaints Authority in their report; and when the Cheshire Police Constabulary were first aware of the acts referred to in the Police Complaints Authority report relating to this case. [3512]

Mr. Michael

Any re-examination of a case in which it is alleged that there has been a miscarriage of justice is now a matter for the Criminal Cases Review Commission, whose powers to refer cases to the Court of Appeal are set out in the Criminal Appeal Act (1995).

I understand that the three police officers concerned retired between June and September 1995. One officer retired on ill health grounds, the other two took normal retirement after completing 30 years' service. The matters referred to in the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) statement came to light in an investigation supervised by the PCA which was completed in August 1994.

I will draw my hon. Friend's Question to the attention of the Criminal Cases Review Commission, and will pass the information provided to the Commission for their consideration.