§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps were taken to review the safety of convictions dependent upon the evidence of corrupt officers(a) following the 1977 report by Superintendent Topping into the Greater Manchester Police force and (b) following the Court of Appeal decision to quash the conviction of Mr. Robert Brown. [108210]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthI am advised by Greater Manchester Police that the report of Superintendent Topping's investigation found no allegation or evidence to suggest that any of the officers who where subject to the investigation had falsified evidence to secure a218W conviction against any individual. Therefore no review of cases or prosecutions involving these officers was conducted. The Court of Appeal decision with regard to the conviction of Mr. Robert Brown does not change this position.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make the 1977 report of Superintendent Topping into the Greater Manchester police force more widely available to interested parties; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [108211]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthI am advised by Greater Manchester Police that this report related to a two year investigation launched in 1979 into allegations of corruption involving detectives working from the Platt Lane police station. Any decisions regarding the report's disclosure are a matter for the Chief Constable but I understand that Greater Manchester Police have no plans to make it more widely available.