§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in Cleveland Police Force are under investigation in the Redwood inquiry; how many have been charged; and if he will make a statement. [81165]
§ Mr. BoatengThe "Redwood" inquiry is an on-going investigation and, for operational reasons, it would be inappropriate at this stage to make any further comment.
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of serving CID officers in Cleveland Police Force are under investigation in the Lancet inquiry in the boroughs of(a) Middlesbrough, (b) Stockton, (c) Langbaurgh and (d) Hartlepool; and if he will make a statement. [81164]
§ Mr. BoatengOperation Lancet is currently investigating 31 Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers. Eight of the 31 are suspended from duty. The remaining 23 officers are currently serving as follows:
- (a) 15 out of a total strength of 46 CID officers at Middlesbrough
- (b) 1 out of a total strength of 30 CID officers at Stockton
- (c) 6 out of a total strength of 32 CID officers at Langbaurgh
- (d) None at Hartlepool
- (e) 1 out of a total strength of 104 CID officers at Force Headquarters.
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the names of the police operations which are directed towards disciplinary offences in the Cleveland Police. [80798]
§ Mr. BoatengThe identity of police operations directed towards disciplinary offences is an operational matter for the Chief Constable of Cleveland, but it is well known that Operation Lancet is an inquiry into allegations of criminal and disciplinary offences against some Cleveland Police officers.
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers are working on the(a) Lancet and (b) Redwood inquiries into Cleveland Police; and if he will make a statement. [80797]
§ Mr. BoatengThere are 21 police officers currently working on Operation Lancet. Three of those officers are from Northamptonshire Police. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 13 April 1999,Official Report, column 11.