XN000022-1993-04-21 — Page 10

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MOTION DEBATE ON POLICE COMPLAINTS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE SPEECH BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, ON THE MOTION DEBATE ON INDEPENDENT UNIT то INVESTIGATE POLICE COMPLAINTS IN THE LEGISLATIVE TONIGHT.

COUNCIL

MR PRESIDENT,

IN

I HAVE LISTENED CAREFULLY TO THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY MEMBERS SUPPORT OF MR TO'S MOTION. BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IT IS NECESSARY OR DESIRABLE TO ESTABLISH A SEPARATE, INDEPENDENT BÓDY TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE POLICE, ALTHOUGH I ACCEPT THAT IMPROVEMENTS CAN AND SHOULD BE MADE TO THE SYSTEM FOR INVESTIGATING AND MONITORING SUCH COMPLAINTS. THAT IS OUR INTENTION.

IT SHOULD NOT BE ASSUMED THAT OFFICERS OF THE COMPLAINTS ` AGAINST POLICE OFFICE (CAPO) WOULD NATURALLY TEND TO PROTECT THEIR COLLEAGUES UNDER INVESTIGATION. DURING EACH OF THE PAST THREE YEARS, AN AVERAGE OF 320 POLICE OFFICERS WHO WERE THE TARGET OF COMPLAINTS WERE, FOLLOWING A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION, THE SUBJECT OF CRIMINAL DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS OR WARNINGS. THAT DOES NOT INDICATE BIAS OR LACK OF OBJECTIVITY IN INVESTIGATING COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE POLICE. RATHER THE REVERSE. THE MAINTENANCE OF DISCIPLINE, AND OF STANDARDS GENERALLY, IS ONE OF THE PRIME CONCERNS OF THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, AS IT MUST BE FOR THE HEAD OF ANY DISCIPLINED SERVICE. THE NEED TO UPHOLD THE STANDARDS AND REPUTATION OF THE FORCE IS UNDERSTOOD AND ACCEPTED BY OFFICERS AT ALL LEVELS, AND THEY ARE NOT TOLERANT OR FORGIVING OF THOSE WHO LET THE FORCE DOWN.

IT ALSO

ALSO SHOULD NOT BE ASSUMED THAT THERE IS SOME MINIMUM PROPORTION OF COMPLAINTS WHICH MUST BE GENUINE AND SHOULD, THEREFORE, BE SUBSTANTIATED. THERE IS NO OBJECTIVE BASIS FOR THIS. STATISTICS CAN BE VERY MISLEADING. THE LOW RATE OF SUBSTANTIATED ALLEGATIONS" MUST BE SEEN AGAINST THE BACKGROUND THAT SOME 60% OF COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY CAPO BACH YEAR CANNOT BE PURSUED, BECAUSE FOR EXAMPLE THE COMPLAINANT WITHDRAWS THE COMPLAINT VOLUNTARILY.

THE SUBSTANTIATION RATE OF COMPLAINTS WHICH ARE INVESTIGATED IS ABOUT 7%. ANOTHER 9% ARE RESOLVED INFORMALLY AFTER DISCUSSION AND EXPLANATION, AND WITH THE AGREEMENT OF THE COMPLAINANTS.

THERE ARE 1...............

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