§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the Essex police review's finding about the Sussex police's decision that the fatal assault on Jay Abatan was not racially motivated; [157145]
(2) following the conclusions of the review by Essex police into the investigation by Sussex police following the death of Jay Abatan, if he will (a) write again to Bindman and Partners Solicitors and (b) reconsider the request by the family of Jay Abatan for a meeting to discuss their concerns. [157144]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeEssex police conducted a review of the initial criminal investigation by Sussex police, which considered their treatment of the possibility that the assault on Jay Abatan was racially motivated. Although the Essex review did raise a number of concerns with regard to lessons which could be learnt from the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report, it does not specifically criticise Sussex police for not treating the assault on Jay Abatan as racially motivated.
134WIn the light of the findings of the Essex review, Sussex police have now asked Avon and Somerset constabulary to undertake a further Inquiry to establish whether any disciplinary offences have been committed. Sussex police voluntarily referred this Inquiry to the Police Complaints Authority for supervision in December 2000. The terms of reference are: to investigate the handling by Sussex police of the assault on Jay Abatan on 24 January 1999 which led to his death on 29 January 1999 with specific reference to:
the initial response by Sussex on the night of the assault;the management of the scene of crime and associated forensic issues;family liaison;the conduct and management of the inquiry;the investigation of the lines of inquiry;the racist aspects of the attack;the reviews of the inquiry;other matters arising from the investigation;any other specific complaints subsequently made by or on behalf of Jay Abatan's family.As this Inquiry is still on-going, I do not believe that it would be appropriate or helpful for me to comment further or meet with the family of Jay Abatan at this stage.