HC Deb 01 November 1999 vol 337 cc37-8W
Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the role of the Independent Commission for Police Complaints in relation to the investigation by the Royal Ulster Constabulary into whether officers present when Robert Hamill and Gregory Girvan were assaulted in Portadown town centre on 27 April 1997 will be subject to disciplinary charges. [95359]

Mr. Ingram

[holding answer 26 October 1999]: The role of the ICPC is as laid down in Part II of the Police (Northern Ireland) Order 1987. In the particular cases of the assaults on Robert Hamill and Gregory Girvan, the ICPC is currently supervising the police investigation of disciplinary matters arising from a complaint relating to the conduct of police in Portadown on 27 April 1997. When the disciplinary investigation report is submitted the Commission will issue a statement as to whether or not the investigation was conducted to its satisfaction. Following this, the Chief Constable will inform the Commission of his opinion in relation to the preferring of charges. At that juncture, the Commission will review all the evidential documentation and decide whether or not the bringing of disciplinary charges is warranted.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will identify(a) by rank and (b) by perceived religious/community origin, the officers employed within Portadown sub-division of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. [95361]

Mr. Ingram

[holding answer 26 October 1999]: The RUC have advised that officers of the following ranks served in Portadown Sub-Division at 1 July 1999:

Rank Number
Superintendent and above 12
Chief Inspector 7
Inspector 21
Sergeant 55
Constable 263
Total 358

The perceived religious/community origin is 319 perceived Protestant, 28 perceived Roman Catholic and 11 undetermined.