§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether in all cases when a member of staff of the Northern Ireland Office is dismissed for criminal actions, such as photocopying confidential letters, the case is referred to the Department of Public Prosecutions or the Police. [HL5846]
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn)If a Northern Ireland Office member of staff is dismissed for criminal actions the circumstances and evidence surrounding such a dismissal may be referred to the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
The seriousness of the criminal activity, the cogency of the evidence and whether the known activity represented all that had gone on are factors in deciding whether or not to refer the matter to the police.