Final Report of the Morris Inquiry: The Case for Change

THE CASE FOR CHANGE
“The lessons and recommendations from the Lancet enquiry
appear relevant here.”
IPCC Review Panel
10.1 In this chapter, we will consider four cases in detail in order to identify lessons
the MPS can learn from the way these cases were handled.
10.2 Paragraph 4 of our terms of reference asks us “to identify lessons to be learnt
from the outcome of recent high profile cases (including recommendations made by the
Gurpal Virdi Inquiry, and the outcome of the case involving Supt. Dizaei).”
10.3 However, our terms of reference did not include a definition of the phrase
‘high profile case’ or a list of such cases, although they did mention Superintendent
Dizaei and Detective Sergeant Virdi. One of our first tasks as an Inquiry, therefore,
was to seek the assistance of stakeholders in identifying those cases generally
regarded as being ‘high profile’. This led to the Secretary to the Inquiry writing to
the MPA, the Police Federation, the MET-TUS and the staff support associations
operating in the MPS, asking them to nominate appropriate cases.
10.4 We then compiled a list of 11 cases from those nominated to us. Two of
the individuals did not wish to participate in the exercise which left us with nine
cases.
10.5 We invited submissions from all nine individuals involved in the cases asking
them to address a series of questions and issues. We are most grateful to these
individuals for taking the time and trouble to set out their experiences in order to
contribute to our work.
10.6 Having considered these submissions, we commissioned independent reviews
in relation to seven of the cases, where we wished to clarify some of the facts. We
felt we had sufficient information in the other two cases. Two of the reviews were
carried out by an experienced HR professional and the other five by two former
senior police officers from police services outside London.
10.7 The three professionals who carried out the reviews were given a brief by the
Inquiry and reviewed original documentation held by the MPS and the MPA. We
relied on their experience and professional judgement to look at relevant material
and we are satisfied that they fulfilled their remit. We invited the individuals
involved and the MPS to comment on our investigators’ reports.
10.8 Having considered the reports we had commissioned, we invited four of
the seven individuals to give evidence and took their cases up with the Deputy
Commissioner, Sir Ian Blair, when he came to give evidence on the second
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