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Police Accountability
23 October 2024
Lead MP
Yvette Cooper
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
Policing & Resources
Other Contributors: 23
At a Glance
Yvette Cooper raised concerns about police accountability in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
The minister updated the House on Sergeant Martyn Blake's trial verdict where he was acquitted of murder charges for actions taken while on duty. She noted that while the decision is independent, the case has raised concerns about accountability, standards, and confidence in policing, especially among black communities. The statement emphasised the importance of mutual trust between police and public and highlighted measures to rebuild this trust including reforms to address delays and complexity within the system for investigating police use of force. Specific policies include aligning referral thresholds to CPS with those for civilians, allowing IOPC to send cases to CPS earlier, establishing a statutory victims' right-to-review mechanism, introducing a presumption of anonymity for firearms officers during criminal trials, reviewing legal tests for misconduct investigations and unlawful killings inquests, and ensuring faster progress on vetting and standards from Angiolini and Casey reviews. The minister also committed to further actions such as implementing neighbourhood policing and new police force performance standards.
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Question
Welsh MPs have long called on the UK Government to devolve policing powers. With the establishment of a national police race action plan, is this an opportunity to revisit these calls? Can the Home Secretary confirm whether she will discuss with the First Minister in Wales the devolution of some policing powers?
Minister reply
The minister acknowledged the importance of addressing inequalities and issues faced by Welsh communities. She expressed openness to discussions with the Welsh Government but highlighted that any devolution of police powers would need to ensure consistency across different areas.
Rachael Maskell
Lab
Redcar
Question
Given the Home Secretary's statement on community confidence in policing, is she concerned about low levels of trust among black communities? Is there any specific work planned for tackling this issue?
Minister reply
The minister expressed concern over the lack of trust in policing and criminal justice systems among minority groups. She mentioned ongoing work such as the London race action plan and the need for further progress on a national police race action plan to address racial disparities.
Kwasi Kwarteng
Con
Spelthorne
Question
In light of concerns raised by Labour about the accountability review, how does the Home Secretary respond? Is she confident that there will be no further delays in implementing these changes?
Minister reply
The minister responded to Labour's critique by emphasising her commitment to speedy implementation and addressing the complexity issues highlighted. She assured MPs of the government’s determination to proceed with reforms without delay.
Caroline Lucas
Green
Brighton, Pavilion
Question
With an increasing number of reports of police misconduct against women, is there a specific plan or timeline for addressing these issues? Is there scope for independent reviews of these cases?
Minister reply
The minister acknowledged the importance of addressing all forms of police misconduct and noted ongoing work on vetting standards and misconduct procedures. She emphasised the need to ensure that any misconduct allegations are thoroughly investigated and addressed.
Stephen Timms
Lab
East Ham
Question
What specific measures will be taken to address the concerns raised by police forces about delays and complexity in accountability systems? Are there plans for a clearer framework?
Minister reply
The minister outlined several measures such as aligning referral thresholds, allowing earlier referrals to CPS, reviewing legal tests for misconduct investigations, and ensuring timely progress on vetting standards. She stressed the importance of providing clarity within the system.
James Cleverly
Con
Braintree
Question
I thank the Home Secretary for advance sight of her statement, and express gratitude for recent briefings. I welcome her proposal to streamline investigations and introduce anonymity provisions for firearms officers facing criminal trials post-shooting incidents. I raise concerns about social media pressures on police and call for continued reform based on the Fairfield review.
Minister reply
I acknowledge the shadow Home Secretary's points, particularly regarding the importance of proper accountability alongside officer confidence. The Government aims to introduce anonymity provisions through forthcoming legislation and will ensure training issues are addressed promptly in investigative guidance updates.
Diane Abbott
Ind
Hackney North and Stoke Newington
Question
I express sympathy for Chris Kaba’s family, acknowledging the distress caused by recent information about him. I highlight past cases where deaths at the hands of police have led to community unrest and riots. Does the Home Secretary agree that such incidents can damage police-community relations if they suggest the police are above the law?
Minister reply
I thank my right hon. Friend for her points on the importance of addressing concerns around deaths caused by police, acknowledging the distress felt by Chris Kaba’s family. I emphasise the necessity for judicial independence and the broader confidence of communities in policing to maintain the tradition of policing by consent.
Lisa Smart
Lib Dem
Hazel Grove
Question
I welcome the Home Secretary’s commitment to pick up the accountability review and acknowledge Baroness Casey's findings on under-protection and over-policing of black Londoners. Will other police forces be involved in the review, and will an independent review of the implementation of the Casey recommendations be commissioned?
Minister reply
The Home Secretary thanked Lisa Smart for her important points and acknowledged the need to ensure clarity and confidence within communities and among police officers. She committed to involving all relevant communities in the measures taken forward and ensuring that steps are consistent with the principles highlighted by Baroness Casey.
Clapham and Brixton Hill
Question
Concerned about the comments from the Metropolitan police commissioner regarding disciplinary processes, including potential exemptions for firearms officers from criminal charges after fatal shootings, is less accountability being proposed?
Minister reply
Yvette Cooper acknowledged that while investigations must take place swiftly and with clarity, there must also be a robust system of legal accountability to ensure confidence among communities and among police officers who work under difficult circumstances.
Karen Bradley
Con
Staffordshire Moorlands
Question
What immediate measures will the Home Secretary take to maintain confidence in the system while long-term reforms are being implemented?
Minister reply
The Home Secretary committed to working at pace, with planned legislation included in the King’s Speech and details on individual measures made available through the Home Office website. The Home Affairs Committee will be updated regularly.
Florence Eshalomi
Lab Co-op
Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
Question
Will the Home Secretary continue to hold the Met police accountable for their progress on the race action plan, which addresses institutional racism?
Minister reply
The Home Secretary affirmed the importance of seeing continued progress on the Met police’s race action plan and highlighted commitments from both the Mayor and the Met commissioner to ensure that actions are taken seriously.
Gavin Williamson
Con
Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge
Question
What additional protections will be introduced to ensure that police officers feel supported while performing their duties?
Minister reply
Yvette Cooper outlined measures such as revising guidance for investigations to account for training and specialist capabilities early on, and ensuring the threshold for referrals from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is appropriate.
Kim Johnson
Lab
Liverpool Riverside
Question
Will assurances be given that our communities will remain safe and police protections not further enhanced, considering existing disparities in policing?
Minister reply
The Home Secretary emphasised the framework’s focus on accountability for police forces and officers while addressing long delays and complexities within the system. She highlighted the need to ensure both timely investigations and clear conclusions to community concerns.
Lee Anderson
Reform
Ashfield
Question
Sergeant Blake has gone through two years of living hell for simply doing his duty and keeping the British public safe. Will the Home Secretary join us at Reform UK in commending his bravery to send out a clear message to all our brave police officers that this place has their backs?
Minister reply
Police officers, who do immensely difficult work across the country every day to keep us safe, deserve our strong support. They often show huge bravery in the most difficult circumstances.
Shaun Davies
Lab
Telford
Question
I pay tribute to the majority of police officers, who go to work and do a decent job. Often, police officers themselves are as disgusted as the general public when misconduct takes place in police forces. Does my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary agree that there is a connection between the delays in police investigations, the delays in the criminal justice system and the delays in misconduct hearings, and that these things have to be taken in the round?
Minister reply
We want the College of Policing to be able to set up a lessons learned database to make sure that action is taken when, for example, there are deaths or serious injuries following police contact.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Question
I am sure most fair-minded people will feel that the Home Secretary has got the balance exactly right, particularly as she has now brought in the presumption of anonymity. May I draw her attention to a surprisingly detailed report by the courts correspondent of the Evening Standard? He seems to have had access to police intelligence reports about a £10,000 reward being offered by gangs to identify, and presumably wreak reprisals against, the sergeant concerned.
Minister reply
I thank the right hon. Member for that question. It is clearly important that police officers who face threats or risks as a result of the job they do have strong protection and support.
Jake Richards
Lab
Rother Valley
Question
The balance between ensuring that our police have the powers and tools they need to keep our streets safe and ensuring that they are not above the law is a delicate one. In that light, I welcome the Home Secretary’s statement, and indeed the response of the shadow Home Secretary.
Minister reply
My hon. Friend makes an important point. It is an important British tradition that we respect the rule of law, which means that individual decisions are made by the police, prosecutors, the courts and juries independently of anything that the Government do.
Josh Babarinde
Lib Dem
Eastbourne
Question
When I first started my work supporting young people in London to get out of crime and gangs, 75% of violent crime in London was committed by people aged under 30 and people in that age group were four times more likely to be victims of crime themselves. For the police to get on top of this, there must be restored confidence between young people and the police.
Minister reply
The hon. Member makes an important point, because often when we talk about trust and confidence for communities, young people, who are frequently those who have the most contact with the police, feel left out of those discussions.
Mike Tapp
Lab
Dover and Deal
Question
It is important that such officers remain anonymous until conviction, and I fully back this statement. As the Home Secretary will know, it is not just the officers facing trial who have to go through intimidation and threats, but their families.
Minister reply
I agree. Families often face some of the most challenging burdens and pressures, and we hear from police officers that their concern about the impact on their families often affects them strongly.
Richard Tice
Reform
Boston and Skegness
Question
First, I put on the record my support and gratitude to all our frontline police officers in the firearms departments for the difficult, challenging and high-pressure work that they do. There is much to commend in your statement, Home Secretary.
Minister reply
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. The accountability review found that the accountability system does not currently have confidence among communities or policing.
Amanda Martin
Lab
Portsmouth North
Question
Last Saturday in my constituency of Portsmouth North and Paulsgrove, I held a joint coffee morning with the local police to give residents an opportunity to raise concerns directly with officers.
Minister reply
I agree with my hon. Friend. Neighbourhood policing has to be at the heart of restoring or rebuilding the confidence of communities in policing.
Kieran Mullan
Con
Bexhill and Battle
Question
I welcome much of what the Home Secretary has said. The police officers we are talking about, including Martyn Blake, are often deployed to protect local communities from violent criminal gang members.
Minister reply
It is really important that we have the full confidence of communities in the police and the confidence of police to be able to do their jobs.
Shadow Comment
James Cleverly
Shadow Comment
The shadow Home Secretary welcomed the statement, acknowledging the continuation of work initiated under his predecessors on reviewing police use of force and accountability. He emphasised the importance of striking a balance between ensuring officers can act decisively based on training without fear of lengthy investigations or trials by media. He commended the proposal for earlier referrals to CPS, faster investigations, and the presumption of anonymity for firearms officers during criminal proceedings following shootings. Cleverly also asked about further recommendations from Dr Gillian Fairfield's review and stressed the need for political backing for police actions even if they are unpopular.
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