PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE RELATING
TO THE REPORT
THURSDAY
18 APRIL 2002
Members present:
Mr Chris Mullin, in the Chair
| Mr David Cameron | Bob Russell
|
| Mrs Janet Dean | Mr Marsha Singh
|
| Mr Humfrey Malins | Angela Watkinson
|
| Bridget Prentice | David Winnick
|
| Mr Gwyn Prosser | |
The Committee deliberated.
[Adjourned till Tuesday 23 April at a quarter past Ten o'clock.
TUESDAY 23 APRIL
2002
Members present:
Mr Chris Mullin, in the Chair
| Mrs Janet Dean | Mr Marsha Singh
|
| Bridget Prentice | Angela Watkinson
|
| Mr Gwyn Prosser | David Winnick
|
| Bob Russell | |
The Committee deliberated.
[Adjourned till Thursday 25 April at a half
past Two o'clock.
THURSDAY 25 APRIL
2002
Members present:
Mr Chris Mullin, in the Chair
| Mrs Janet Dean | Mr Marsha Singh
|
| Bridget Prentice | Angela Watkinson
|
| Mr Gwyn Prosser | Mr Tom Watson
|
| Bob Russell | David Winnick
|
Draft Report [Police Reform Bill] proposed by the Chairman, brought
up and read.
Ordered, That the draft Report be read a second time, paragraph
by paragraph.
Paragraphs 1 to 29 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 30 read, as follows:
"Considering the careful preparation that has gone into
the new complaints system, we were not surprised to receive only
a few suggestions for improvements to this part of the Bill. Liberty
argued for a tighter definition of the type of cases which ought
always to be examined by the new Independent Commission. The Police
Federation wanted a time-limit on investigations and an offence
of malicious or fabricated complaint. When the Committee examined
police complaints and disciplinary procedures in 1997-8 this issue
was considered. We concluded then that genuine complaints could
be deterred if there was a new criminal offence of making a false
complaint. The Committee accordingly did not recommend the
introduction of such an offence. We stand by that conclusion".
Amendment proposed, in line 8, to leave out from the word "complaint"
to the end of the paragraph and insert the words,
"However under the new Independent Commission we would
like to see some protection for officers who have been subject
to complaints which are shown to be malicious or which have been
fabricated for the purpose of affecting the outcome of a criminal
investigation. We recommend the introduction of such an offence".—(Angela
Watkinson.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The Committee divided.
| Ayes, 1 | Noes, 6
|
| Angela Watkinson | Mrs Janet Dean
|
| Bridget Prentice |
| Bob Russell |
| Mr Marsha Singh |
| Mr Tom Watson |
| David Winnick |
Paragraph agreed to.
Paragraphs 31 to 35 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 36 read, as follows:
"We recommend that the appointment of the chairman
of the Independent Police Complaints Commission should be with
the 'advice and consent' of the House of Commons."
Amendment proposed, in line 3, at the end, to add the words,
"It would also be a useful Parliamentary innovation if
before taking up the appointment the person is requested to appear
before this Committee, and we recommend accordingly".—(David
Winnick).
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The Committee divided.
| Ayes, 1 | Noes, 7
|
| David Winnick | Mrs Janet Dean
|
| Bridget Prentice |
| Mr Gwyn Prosser |
| Bob Russell |
| Mr Marsha Singh |
| Angela Watkinson |
| Mr Tom Watson |
Paragraph agreed to.
Paragraphs 37 to 69 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 70 read, as follows:
"We invite the Government to clarify its intentions
about clause 35 (police powers for police authority employees)
in respect of the detention officer role being carried out by
civilian staff working under contract as well as those directly
employed by police authorities. In particular, we are concerned
that a drift to a 'contracting out' culture will lead to civilians
with insufficient training working in poor conditions for less
money while doing jobs which until recently were undertaken by
police officers".
Amendment proposed, in line 4, after the word "particular",
to insert the words,
"We are concerned at the proposed transfer of a range
of police powers to civilians, in particular, powers of arrest".—(Angela
Watkinson.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The Committee divided.
| Ayes, 2 | Noes, 5
|
| Bob Russell | Mrs Janet Dean
|
| Angela Watkinson | Bridget Prentice
|
| Mr Gwyn Prosser |
| Mr Marsha Singh |
| Mr Tom Watson |
Paragraph agreed to.
Paragraphs 71 to 89 read and agreed to.
Ordered, That further consideration of the Chairman's draft
Report be adjourned.—(The Chairman.)
Report to be further considered upon Tuesday 30 April.
[Adjourned till Tuesday 30 April at a quarter
past Ten o'clock.
TUESDAY 30 APRIL
2002
Members present:
Mr Chris Mullin, in the Chair
| Mrs Janet Dean | Angela Watkinson
|
| Bridget Prentice | Mr Tom Watson
|
| Mr Gwyn Prosser | |
Consideration of the Chairman's draft Report resumed.
Paragraph 90 agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report be the Second Report of the Committee
to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the provisions of Standing Order No. 134
(Select Committees (reports)) be applied to the Report.
Several Papers were ordered to be appended to the Minutes of Evidence.
Ordered, That the Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence
taken before the Committee, be reported to the House.—(The
Chairman.)
* * *
[Adjourned till Thursday 9 May at half past
Nine o'clock.
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