§ David MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the reasons for the recent investigation into the conduct of Superintendent Garry Horlacher; [84204]
(2) if he will make a statement on the number of man hours lost as result of the investigation into the conduct of Superintendent Garry Horlacher; [84207]
(3) if he will make a statement on the origin of the regulation regarding staff information on a whiteboard, which led to the investigation into the conduct of Superintendent Garry Horlacher; [84205]
(4) if he will make a statement on the time taken to complete the investigation into the conduct of Superintendent Garry Horlacher; and what assessment he has made of (a) the costs of the investigaton and (b) the impact upon police morale. [84206]
§ Mr. DenhamI am informed by Cumbria Constabulary that they received a number of allegations, some of which were of a serious nature, which the force considered breached the principles of honesty and integrity, confidentiality, and politeness and tolerance, contained in the Code of Conduct in the Police Conduct) Regulations 1999. The force considered that the more serious allegations merited an investigation under those regulations.
Cumbria Constabulary advise me that the investigation took three months. It was undertaken by an outside force that has not charged for this work. No officers were suspended, and thus, no time was lost.
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§ Mr. Bob Ainsworth[holding answer 27 November 2002]: As far as records show the following meetings have been held between Home Office and Scottish Executive Ministers since May 1999:
The force recognise that morale may have been impacted by the investigation, but they consider that there would have been a more serious impact if no investigation had been undertaken into the serious allegations made against a senior officer.