§ 27. Helen JacksonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times since May 1997 a complaint against a police force has been externally investigated. [74603]
§ Mr. Boateng15 complaints cases were recorded as having been referred to another force for investigation in England and Wales in 1997–98, the latest year for which figures are available. Each case may consist of one or more complaint. This figure does not include investigations involving allegations of criminal or disciplinary offences in which no complaint has been received from a member of the public.
The Government support the recommendation of the Home Affairs Select Committee in its report on police disciplinary and complaints procedures that investigation by an outside force should become a more regular occurrence than it is at present. The new guidance which we will be issuing shortly on police discipline and complaints procedures will encourage chief officers to make greater use of investigating officers from outside forces.