§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on what dates meetings took place between the West Midlands police and the Crown Prosecution Service investigating the allegations against Detective Chief Superintendent Ellie Baker; [115696]
(2) if he will make a statement on the reasons for the time taken to investigate the allegations against Detective Chief Superintendent Ellie Baker of the West Midlands Constabulary; and how much it cost to investigate the allegations against her. [115697]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthThe West Midlands police inform me that the involvement of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), the appointment of the metropolitan police service (MPS) to conclude the investigation and consideration of the matter by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) are all factors which have contributed to the time taken in the investigation. Once the CPS determined that no criminal proceedings should be instigated, further delays have arisen through the need to consider whether DCS Baker should face misconduct proceedings and the processes of disclosure of relevant information and subsequent interviews that this required. Further written representations submitted by DCS Baker in May are currently under consideration by the PCA before they make their recommendations on whether DCS Baker should face misconduct proceedings.
The West Midlands police advise me that a detailed account of the costs of the investigation is not available. However, they advise that a conservative estimate of the cost of the investigation so far would be in the region of £150,000.
I am further advised that the West Midlands police met the CPS on 17, 23 and 30 October 2002 before the matter was voluntarily referred to the PCA and the MPS were appointed to oversee the investigation. A West Midlands police representative also attended a meeting between the MPS and the CPS in January 2003 when it was determined that there would be no criminal proceedings against DCS Baker.