Metropolitan Police (ldentikit Pictures) (Hoc, WA)
01 January 1991
Metropolitan Police (ldentikit Pictures) (Hoc, WA)
artdoc June=1991
30.1.89 Col.6
Mr. Bernie Grant: To ask the Secretary or State for the
Home Department (1) whether he will call for a report from the
Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis about the use of a
photograph of Mr. Nigel Benn, the Commonwealth middleweight
boxing champion, by the Metropolitan police in connection with
trying to identify someone who had. committed a criminal act;
(2) whether he will call for a report from the
Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to whether there
was any racist motive involved in the release of an identikit
picture of Mr. Nigel Benn;
(3) whether he will set up an immediate inquiry into the
release of an identikit photo of Mr. Nigel Benn; and whether
he will make the findings of the inquiry public.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: The Metropolitan police have accepted
that the publication of the photograph was a serious mistake,
and have apologised to Mr. Benn. Steps are being taken to
ensure that this regrettable incident does not recur. The
Metropolitan Police Commissioner has already initiated an
urgent enquiry into the.circumstances of the case, and he has
been asked to let my right hon. Friend know the outcome.
Mr. Bernie Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for the
Home Department on how many occasions photographs of white or
black persons have been used previously by the Metropolitan
police to make up identikit pictures; on what dates this
occurred; and what was the racial breakdown of the persons
involved.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: I understand that it is not normal
police practice to use photographs of particular individuals
to make up identikit pictures. Standard identikit packs,
comprising photographs of specific facial features, are used.
Mr. Bernie Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for the
Home Department what was the cost of printing and distributing
identikit pictures of Mr. Nigel Benn.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: I understand from the Metropolitan
police that it was ¼28.53.
Mr. Bernie Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for the
Home Department 'whether he has assessed the consequences for
race relations of the sending out of thousands of identikit.
pictures of Mr. Nigel Benn by the MetroPolitan police.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: I am confident that this regrettable
error will not be seen as undermining the Metropolitan Police's
firm commitment to good race relations.
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