Independent review of Dyfed-Powys Police
The petition of Julia and Robin Burn,
Declares that, in 2010, in conducting their investigations into allegations made against the petitioners, Dyfed-Powys Police did not proceed in accordance with the appropriate National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) guidance; further declares that these allegations were later found to be groundless and without merit; further that this resulted in the petitioners’ mute autistic daughter being taken into local authority care for six months; and further that, after no further action was taken, no attempt was made to return her.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to instigate an independent review of Dyfed-Powys Police’s handling of this case.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Nia Griffith, Official Report, 2 December 2020; Vol. 685, c. 378 .]
[P002633]
Observations from The Minister for Crime and Policing (Kit Malthouse):
The petitioners have raised concerns about the role of Dyfed-Powys Police and its involvement and interaction with them since 2010 following allegations of a serious and sensitive nature concerning their daughter.
Subsequent criminal allegations made against and by the petitioners have been investigated and, as appropriate, reviewed by the Crown Prosecution Service; complaints against the force have been investigated at a local level and externally by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC); subsequent directions by the IOPC have been implemented; and civil claim proceedings between the petitioners and the force settled.[Official Report, 19 May 2021, Vol. 695, c. 6MC.]
Further requests to revisit this matter have been rejected by the Dyfed-Powys Police as it is of the view that due process has been followed and there is no new or fresh evidence to justify doing so.
Taking all these factors into account, the Government are of the view that there are no grounds for establishing an independent review of Dyfed-Powys Police’s handling of this case.