Final Report of the Morris Inquiry: The Case for Change

THE CASE FOR CHANGE
“My personal view is they do make it up as they go along, they are given greater scope, if you
like, to do what they want to get the result that they need.” (Evidence of Mr CC.)
“The danger is that a ‘Frankenstein’ department has now been created which enjoys
unprecedented support and … ‘soft love’ resulting in a culture of self fulfilling prophecy
amongst its staff who believe they are untouchable and unaccountable …There is a false sense
of self-belief that they are the last bastions in the over exaggerated and eminent cancer of
serious corruption and poor standards which is about to engulf the organisation.The reality
is that the majority of MPS employees are honest and decent individuals who do not want to
be associated and frequently reminded by the highest ranks in the MPS that they work for an
organisation which suffers from endemic corruption and is riddled with poor professional
standards.” (Submission from the NBPA.)
“A number of senior officers, particularly those attached to the DPS operate in a bullying,
partial, class system beyond the complaint of police officers they are delegated to investigate.”
(Submission from IND 27.)
“… then who is accountable for those decisions? Because it seems that the impression it gives,
that not only people who make the poor decisions which influence the lives of people, and I
think the human side of this is often missed, because my family and I suffered as a result of this
poor decision – not only are those people not questioned, but indeed they are promoted.”
(Evidence of Superintendent Ali Dizaei.)
“I strongly believe that DPS is not properly regulated and that they think they can do as they
please without fear of an investigation into their own activities. It would seem they have a
mentality that does not allow them to look at cases objectively. I would liken it to tunnel
vision. They seem unable to look at the big picture and seem to focus on obtaining a
prosecution, whether it by means of a criminal trial or by means of an internal hearing. It
appears they will also try and obtain this end result by any means, and if that involves foul
means, then as long as they get the result they want, they will use them.”
(Submission from IND 46.)
7.28 Investigations seem to be conducted without any regard for those involved.
“I think above all, that if I had to pick one thing to concentrate on, you know, that we should be
presumed to be innocent, and be treated like human beings, with dignity and respect. I know
how I felt and I know how my wife felt at what was happening to me, despite having done
what I have done 100 per cent for the job, you know, and commitment.”
(Evidence of Mr HH.)
7.29 We have received evidence which suggests that the directorate is not
accountable to the rest of the organisation. We heard from one OCU Commander
who had officers who were under investigation:
“I am very rarely kept up to date. I have to go out of my way to find out the progress of it. I
am regularly asked by the Federation, by the staff, for updates I cannot give them. And it is just
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