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Home Office

Answer

Mr. Hope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he will take to ensure that the development of a new police complaints system takes account of the lessons to be learned from Operation Lancet. [160870] Mr. Straw: We published the Government's proposed framework for a new police complaints system in December 2000. In developing the new arrangements we want to ensure that they are able to deal effectively and robustly with all cases including those where the investigation may be complex and wide-ranging. I have therefore asked Sir John Hoddinott, former Chief Constable of Hampshire, to carry out a review with the following terms of reference. On behalf of the Home Secretary to conduct a review: To consider the functioning of the statutory constitutional arrangements for the investigation of corruption and other serious complaints against the police, including the roles of the Police Complaints Authority and the Crown Prosecution Service; To consider Operation Lancet as a case study of the way such an investigation is managed strategically and operationally, including as part of the study the process by which decisions were taken during that investigation, and the extent of resources and time used; and To make recommendations for the future investigation of police complaints. The review will consider the issues arising from the conduct and management of the investigation and will not re-consider any of the matters of substance which were the subject of the investigation. The review will not consider issues relating to the substance of allegations of misconduct about individuals or any such new allegations. Sir John Hoddinott will begin work this month.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

368 c167-8W; 160870

Session

2000-01

Subjects

Complaints Inquiries Police Reviews Cleveland Police

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk