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Written question asked by Harry Cohen (Labour) on Thursday, 29 November 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 3 December 2007. It was answered by Tony McNulty (Labour) on Monday, 10 December 2007 on behalf of the Home Office.

Metropolitan Police: Complaints

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used in directing complaints relating to the handling of cases by the Metropolitan police to (a) the Metropolitan Police Directorate of Professional Standards and (b) the Independent Police Complaints Commission; what the outcome has been of the handling of the complaint of Bilan and Hussein Mohamud in relation to the conduct of Kentish Town police station officers; and if she will make a statement.
Answer

The Metropolitan police direct all public complaints to their Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS). Under Schedule 3 of the Police Reform Act 2002, the Metropolitan police—and all other police forces in England and Wales—must refer to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) specific complaints or incidents that could damage public confidence in the police. The police and the IPCC have a set of criteria for this process, and those criteria identify the following matters as Mandatory Referrals:"Where direct or indirect contact with the police may have caused or contributed to a person's death or serious injury;""Where a member of the police service is alleged to have committed a serious assault or serious sexual assault;""Where a member of the police service is alleged to have committed an offence that could attract a prison sentence of seven years or more;""Where a member of the police service is alleged to have committed a criminal offence / behaviour aggravated by discrimination;""Serious corruption."Discretionary referrals, outside of the categories above, can also be made to the IPCC if it is desirable to do so in the public interest. Discretionary referral of conduct matters to the IPCC may be done only with the authority of a DPS officer of the rank of Detective Superintendent or above. The IPCC, which has guardianship of the police complaints system, also has the power to call in an investigation where circumstances justify their involvement.Bilan and Hussein Mohamud made a number of complaints to the Metropolitan police in December 2005, which were investigated by the Directorate of Professional Standards; the outcome of that investigation was that all matters were found to be un-substantiated. This was conveyed to the solicitors for Mr. and Mrs. Mohamud in January 2007.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
171397; 469 c87-8W
Session
2007-08
Subjects
Complaints Metropolitan Police
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk