HC Deb 25 May 1999 vol 332 c71W
Mr. Peter Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on police(a) progress in implementing and (b) plans to implement recommendations of the Macpherson report. [85063]

Mr. Straw

On 24 March I published, an Action Plan which sets out how the report's recommendations will be taken forward. Progress has been made on implementing the recommendations in line with the published plan. Specifically in April:

New police discipline procedures and code of conduct came into effect.Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary inspection of the Metropolitan Police is under way.Targets for the recruitment, retention and career progression of minority ethnic officers were set and published.New guidance to the police on pre-inquest disclosure in relation to deaths in police custody was issued.I wrote to all local crime and disorder reduction partnerships about tackling racist crime.A new internal inspection and review framework was introduced within the Metropolitan Police.A draft manual of police operations in relation to race and hate crime was issued for consultation.

The Steering Group, chaired by me, which has responsibility for overseeing implementation of the report, met for the first time on 18 May.