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EDITIONS

Change
to World

Tuesday, 16
July, 2002, 17:43 GMT 18:43 UK

New police guidelines after Mallon
inquiry

Mr Mallon was elected mayor of
Middlesbrough

A Home Office investigation into the Operation Lancet
corruption inquiry on Teesside has called for a new way of carrying out
internal police investigations.

Former Home Secretary Jack Straw ordered the examination of Lancet,
which centred on Cleveland Police, in April 2001.

The report has found that police operations such as Lancet are hampered
by "unachievable expectations" and "apparently unconstrained expenditure".

Ray Mallon, former head of Middlesbrough CID and now mayor of
Middlesbrough, was investigated as part of the Lancet inquiry after
alleged malpractice by his officers.

'Costs controlled'

Lancet started in 1997 amid allegations that drugs were being traded
for confessions and that prisoners were being assaulted.

Five years later, no criminal charge has been brought, and critics
claim the Lancet investigation has cost more than £3m

The report criticised Lancet for putting too much pressure on some
investigators.

It also come up with recommendations detailing how future internal
police inquiries should be carried out, including cost management and
establishing national guidelines.

Mr Mallon said: "I welcome the recommendations in this report and
commend them to the government.

Cleveland Police started Operation Lancet
in 1997

"I agree wholeheartedly with the conclusions of the review, namely that
future investigations must be ringfenced, their costs carefully controlled
and officers in charge must have experience of major crime
investigations."

Cleveland Acting Deputy Chief Constable Della Cannings said the report
was not "a direct commentary" on Lancet as files had not been opened to
the review team because of "on-going disciplinary matters".

She said the force "welcomed the clear statement of the review team in
recognising difficulties faced in any major investigation."

The review was carried out by Bill Taylor, the former Chief Inspector
of Constabulary for Scotland, as part of a broader government
investigation into the way police complaints are handled.

Taxpayers' money

In his report summary he said that "when dealing with alleged
malpractice by police officers", there is a desire for a thoroughness and
conclusiveness" which can "border on the search for perfection and result
in an intoxicating cocktail".

He said the cocktail included unachievable expectations, investigatory
activity disproportionate to the central issues, apparently unconstrained
expenditure and inappropriate elongation of the inquiry.

Mr Taylor concluded: "This cocktail, rather than resulting in
effectiveness which must be the outcome that best represents the public
interest, can be a major contributory factor in creating widespread
dissatisfaction."

Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Ashok Kumar, a critic of
Lancet, said there needed to be an examination to see exactly how much
taxpayers' money was spent.

See also:

03 May
02 | Politics

Mallon
becomes Robomayor

11 Feb
02 | England

'Robocop' is
asked to resign

07 Feb
02 | England

Robocop looks
forward to 'going public'

06 Feb
02 | England

'Robocop' ends
bid to clear name

04 Oct 01 | UK

Super cop's
town hall ambitions

10 Aug 01 | UK

'Robocop'
resigns in mayoral bid

04 Apr 01 | UK

Probe into
'Robocop' inquiry

Internet links:

Cleveland
Police

Police Complaints
Authority

Operation Lancet
- Case Study Review Report

The BBC is
not responsible for the content of external internet
sites

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