Examination of Witness (Questions 720
- 723)
TUESDAY 6 FEBRUARY 2001
MR PAUL
SCOTT-LEE
720. The murder of personnel from the Armed
Forces?
(Mr Scott-Lee) I think that that would require discussion
in terms of the circumstances, the location and, in particular,
going back to my other points, what professional expertise they
have in that locality. I am talking here not just in terms of
officers with the experience but the scenes of crime back-up to
be immediately available to give the service that is required.
I think that would require discussion.
721. Do you think there would be any professional
rivalry between the two? Say the MoD police think they could be
on it and the chief constable sort of takes them off it. Do you
think that would be a problem?
(Mr Scott-Lee) Not really, because it is not about
rivalry, it is about wanting to get the job done. There may be
a professional difference of opinion that says "I feel I
have got the capacity to deal with it" and somebody is saying
"I take a different view", but not rivalry.
Mr Key
722. Chairman, I know from my own constituency
that my constituents are always very pleased to see the Ministry
of Defence police along with the other six police forcessome
of them Service policemen and some of them from civilian police
forceswhich operate within our constituency. However, it
is quite difficult for us on this Committee, because all the detail
that we are talking about is going to be negotiated after the
passage of this Bill, which is why we are probing this rather
carefully. We are taking it on trust. Are you content that as
a chief constable of a Home Office police force you will be able
to satisfy your own police authority that the protocols you develop
with the Ministry of Defence police are in the public interest
and the interest of the people, in your case, of Suffolk and,
in my case, of Wiltshire?
(Mr Scott-Lee) Yes, I am.
Chairman
723. Thank you very much. Are there any further
or final questions to Mr Scott-Lee? No. Can I thank you very much
indeed, Mr Scott-Lee, for what I and all Members of the Committee
have found a very useful and very interesting evidence session.
We very much appreciate the contribution you have made to our
consideration of this Bill and the legislation to come. Thank
you very much indeed for coming along this morning.
(Mr Scott-Lee) Thank you, ma'am.
|