Metropolitan Police

Debate between Lord Trefgarne and Lord Taylor of Holbeach

Thursday 27th March 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Trefgarne]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to restore the reputation of the Metropolitan Police, having regard to recent reports.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con)]

My Lords, the majority of police officers serving in London and elsewhere do their jobs well, serving their communities with dedication and professionalism. We must build on this. We have established the College of Policing, which has the remit to set standards and promote good practice. Ensuring that the police maintain the highest levels of integrity is a core function of the college and it will be shortly publishing the first ever code of ethics for the police.

[Lord Trefgarne (Con)]

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend. Is it not the case that undercover police operations play a vital part in the fight against terrorism and serious crime? Is it therefore not important that the unhappy and unfortunate events of past years should be put aside as soon as possible—having regard, of course, to due process—so that brave men and women are not discouraged from volunteering for this dangerous work?

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

I do not quite take that position. We are facing a grave crisis of confidence and it is important that, whatever the value of these operations, we learn from the mistakes of the past. Certainly we need to investigate the criminal activity that may have led to them occurring. It also makes it more important that such operations are properly authorised and supervised. The Government have already put in place improved arrangements for the authorisation of undercover work, including a requirement to notify deployments to the independent surveillance commissioners. In addition, HMIC is reviewing all law enforcement undercover units and will report at the end of May.

Police: Convicted Officers

Debate between Lord Trefgarne and Lord Taylor of Holbeach

Wednesday 24th April 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord Trefgarne]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Metropolitan Police Service regarding the arrangements for assessing the continued suitability of officers convicted of serious criminal offences.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach)]

My Lords, the Government have not had any specific discussions with the Metropolitan Police Service regarding the arrangements for assessing the continual suitability of officers convicted of serious criminal offences. The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime is responsible for holding the commissioner to account for his decisions in this regard. My noble friend will know, and I have written to him on this matter, that I share his concern that police officers should meet the highest standards of professional behaviour.

[Lord Trefgarne]

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for that reply. Although precise numbers are difficult to come by, as he says, is it not the case that there are several hundred police officers still serving in the Metropolitan Police who have been convicted of serious criminal offences but who continue to serve—including, no doubt, giving evidence on oath in other criminal cases? Is that really satisfactory?

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

I understand the noble Lord’s concern, particularly as it is based on those figures, but in fact those figures are not accurate. I have been able to obtain some accurate figures. In 2005, a total of 46 officers were serving in the MPS who had a criminal conviction. That went down to 25 in 2010, and in 2012 there was a further decline to a total of 15 officers serving with the MPS with a criminal conviction. Of these 15 officers, the majority of convictions, 10 of them, were for traffic offences including excess alcohol.

Police Integrity

Debate between Lord Trefgarne and Lord Taylor of Holbeach

Tuesday 12th February 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

I cannot accept the noble Lord’s suggestion that there is equivalence between the two situations, but I am certain that the restoration of good practice within communities is a very local matter. That is why the focus of the Statement is on the engagement of individual forces and the maintenance of professional standards throughout the police force from top to bottom. I hope the noble Lord will understand that I am not prepared to go quite as far as he would suggest.

[Lord Trefgarne]

My Lords, perhaps I may pick up on something said by the noble Baroness, Lady Smith. Is it not the case that senior officials in Whitehall and others who need access to highly sensitive, classified information undergo a process called positive vetting? Does this apply to senior police officers and, if not, why not?