Final Report of the Morris Inquiry: The Case for Change

GOVERNANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY AND SCRUTINY
We recommend that the Metropolitan Police Authority keeps under review the
protocol with the MPS on the provision of information to the Authority on
complaints and conduct cases, in order to ensure that it meets its
responsibility for scrutiny.
We also recommend that the Metropolitan Police Authority reviews the
resources it is able to devote to supporting its role in overseeing complaints
and conduct cases, with a view to increasing activity further, particularly in
relation to dip-sampling of files.
6.44 However, we are firmly of the view that oversight needs to be a formal
function conducted through formal structures, rather than through the
involvement of individual Members of the Authority in specific cases, and we would
encourage a partnership to that end.
The implementation of the recommendations of the Virdi Inquiry Report
6.45 Another matter that is relevant to paragraph 5 of our terms of reference,
which deals with the oversight role of the MPA, is the implementation of the
recommendations of the Virdi Inquiry Report.
6.46 Indeed, note 8 to our terms of reference asks us to consider: “What progress
has been made by the MPS on the implementation of recommendations from the Gurpal
Virdi Inquiry.”
6.47 The Virdi Inquiry, Chaired by David Muir, a Member of the MPA, was set up to
look at the case involving Detective Sergeant Virdi (as he now is). The facts of that
case are, we believe, well known and we deal with them later in this report since
the case itself is one of the ‘high profile’ cases we were asked to consider.
6.48 The Virdi Inquiry published its report in January 2001. It contained 18
recommendations, of which 11 were directed at the MPS. We have been asked to
comment on the progress in implementing those recommendations. We found this
a very difficult task.
6.49 On the one hand, the Commissioner has periodically provided the MPA with
reports setting out the progress made by the MPS in implementing the
recommendations of the Virdi Inquiry and, in his written submission to us, the
Deputy Commissioner told us that “The MPS has therefore complied with all the
recommendations of the Gurpal Virdi report.”
6.50 On the other hand, however, we have received evidence from organisations,
such as the Discrimination Law Association, the MET-TUS and from individuals,
including Mr Virdi himself, which suggests that this might not be the case.
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