§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was(a) the time when (i) inappropriate material relating to Sergeant Virdi' s case was created on the police computer system and (ii) Sergeant Virdi was recorded as acting as custody officer at Acton early on 24 December 1997, (b) the time when Sergeant Virdi was first (i) interviewed, (ii) cautioned, (iii) arrested, (iv) first and (v) last put under surveillance, (c) the time when inappropriate material was created on the police computer system in January 1998, and which officers were (i) interviewed, (ii) cautioned, (iii) arrested and (iv) put under surveillance; whether he received a report on the investigation and recording of the racial attack in 15 March 1998 in which Sergeant Virdi was an arresting officer; when and why Sergeant Virdi was reprimanded for maintaining his interest in the police activity relating to the racial attack; on which occasions Sergeant Virdi's senior officers used any independent element in investigating the events and complaints; what were the numbers and ranks of police officers involved in searching Sergeant Virdi's home on 15 April 1998, and the time taken in the search; what was the normal purpose and use of a POLSA search; and when and how material from Sergeant Virdi' s locker at Hanwell was taken to the police station safe at Ealing. [80631]
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§ Kate HoeyThe Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that disciplinary proceedings are still being considered in relation to Sergeant Virdi. It would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment: on the points(a)(i); (a)(ii); (c); (c)(i); (c)(ii); (c)(iii); (c)(iv); on the occasions when Sergeant Virdi's senior officers used any independent element in investigating the events and complaints: or on the numbers and ranks of police officers conducting the search of Sergeant Virdi's home on 15 April 1998.
In relation to points (b)(i); (b)(ii); (b)(iii); (b)(iv); and (b)(v), the Commissioner tells me that Sergeant Virdi was first interviewed at 1.39 pm on 17 April 1998, arrested and cautioned at 10.53 am on 15 April 1998, and put under surveillance on 15 April 1998.
The Home Secretary is not routinely informed of racial attacks and was not informed of the attack in Ealing Division. The Commissioner informs me that Sergeant Virdi has not been reprimanded in relation to this incident.
The Commissioner tells me that a POLSA search is one conducted by a team of officers specifically trained to national standards. POLSA teams have a role in counterterrorist searches and undertake evidence gathering in searches in support of major investigations.
The Commissioner has confirmed that property was taken from Sergeant Virdi's locker at Hanwell Police Station and placed in the safe at Ealing Police Station. This has been reported as a theft by Sergeant Virdi and is under investigation. As at 15 April, it has not been established who moved the property and when it was moved.