§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints were made against the police; what is the ratio of the number of complaints to(a) the population of the jurisdiction, (b) the number of police officers and (c) the number investigated; how many of these complaints were investigated; how many investigations led to the instigation of disciplinary proceedings against officers; what is the ratio of proceedings instigated to complaints made; how many disciplinary proceedings led to disciplinary action; and what is the ratio of disciplinary action to complaints made for the last year for which figures are available. [19500]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 10 December 1997]: The available information for Northern Ireland, in relation to complaints made and completed in 1996 is given below. Number of complaints received: 4,429.
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- (a) Ratio of complaints to the population: 1:376.
- (b) Ratio of complaints to number of officers at 30 November 1997 (including Full Time and Part Time Reserve): 1:2.89.
- (c) Ratio of complaints received to the number of complaints fully investigated in 1996 is 1:0.45 (Complaints recorded in a year are not necessarily completed in that year; and the number of complaints investigated includes some originating in earlier years. Also, the figure for investigated complaints does not include complaints withdrawn, informally resolved or deemed incapable of investigation. It is not possible to give a figure for the number of complaints received in 1996 which were investigated in 1996, as the figures on completion can relate to cases originating in earlier years).
Two thousand and eleven complaints were fully investigated in 1996 and 10 completed investigations led to disciplinary proceedings against officers.
The ratio of disciplinary proceedings to complaints made against officers is 0.003:1. (The disciplinary proceedings may have arisen from complaints originating in earlier years; some investigations led to more than one officer facing disciplinary action).
Six officers received disciplinary action following disciplinary hearings arising from investigations completed in 1996. These figures may contain proceedings from complaints made in earlier years. The ratio of disciplinary action to the number of complaints is 0.0014: 1.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Police Authority for Northern Ireland purchased the Seapark complex at Carrickfergus; what the purchase price was; what professional surveys and advice were obtained; and what amounts have since been spent in adapting and developing the complex. [20795]
§ Mr. IngramThe Police Authority signed the contract to purchase the Seapark Complex, Carrickfergus, on 4 March 1988.
The agreed purchase price was £660,000.
In February 1987 the Authority commissioned a professional architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical condition survey of the Seapark premises.
Since 1988 the Authority has spent a total of £5.9 million on various projects.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the(a) location, (b) extent and (c) effects of the discovery of asbestos in the Police Authority's Seapark complex, and what estimate she has made of the cost of stores (i) cleaned and (ii) disposed of and the cost of surveys and other remedial work to deal with the asbestos problem. [20797]
§ Mr. IngramAsbestos, primarily in the form of asbestos/cement roof and wall panels, is present extensively throughout the former factory and boiler house areas of the Seapark complex.
Asbestos based material was also present in ceiling tiles and is present in pipe and duct lagging within certain roof voids.
The discovery of asbestos contamination led to the closure of all contaminated areas and required the relocation of staff, equipment and functions.
The cost of cleaning re-usable stores items and equipment totals £802,080 and the value of stores disposed of as a direct result of asbestos contaminated amounts to £579,760.
The cost of surveys and other remedial work to deal with the asbestos problem is £829,243.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who was the vendor of the Seapark complex at Carrickfergus when it was purchased by the Police Authority for Northern Ireland. [20799]
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§ Mr. IngramThe vendor of the Seapark complex was Rothmans International PLC.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who was involved in the decision to identify and evaluate the premises which led to the Police Authority for Northern Ireland purchasing the former Carreras Tobacco plant at Seapark, Carrickfergus. [20796]
§ Mr. IngramThe availability of the former Rothmans/Carreras factory at Seapark was first identified by senior officials in the Police Authority in December 1986. There then followed a period of evaluation of the premises.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations she has received from the(a) Police Authority and (b) Chief Constable for legislation on the role and responsibilities of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland. [20791]
§ Mr. IngramThe Secretary of State has received no representations from either the Police Authority or the Chief Constable on the role and responsibilities of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures she will take to ensure that the Police Authority protects the health and safety of all staff at the Seapark complex and fully discloses the extent and implications of the discovery of asbestos in the complex. [20798]
§ Mr. IngramAssurances have been received from the Police Authority that it has taken, and will continue to take, whatever measures are necessary to protect the health and safety of all staff at the Seapark complex.
Following the discovery of asbestos contamination at Seapark, a programme involving re-location, de-contamination and remedial works was implemented.
Staff and the staff associations were informed about the contamination and, since that time, weekly tests have been carried out for the continuing reassurance of staff.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will encourage the Police Authority and RUC jointly to undertake a comprehensive fair employment audit and action plan and publish it. [20907]
§ Mr. IngramBoth the Police Authority and the RUC already furnish the Fair Employment Commission with regular reviews of their employment composition and practices in accordance with the obligations placed on employers under Section 31 of the Fair Employment (NI) Act 1989.
Both bodies take seriously their responsibilities under the legislation and I am not convinced that an audit is required.