Final Report of the Morris Inquiry: The Case for Change

LESSONS FOR THE FUTURE
“I do think that Brian did get more support than again he acknowledges here. There is a very
senior member of the DPA with whom Brian was in regular contact, home, mobile, office
numbers and so on, but Brian was being very, very bruised by what was going on.
“… I am extremely pleased with the way Brian has actually come through this. There were
some very, very difficult times for him for a couple of years while all of this was going on. He
and I had many discussions, and there is one particular piece of advice I was able to give him
which I think he has done, which is to stop being a story and make a story about his own
achievements and the achievements of the Met, and since that stage the interest in him has
diminished in the newspapers. I think he is now doing a very good job …”
(Evidence of the Deputy Commissioner, Sir Ian Blair.)
10.83 We consider it unfortunate that, whatever support was offered to DAC
Paddick, in particular in relation to the way his case was reported in the media,
he should have been left with the impression that the organisation failed to
support him during this difficult time. It appears that despite the support given,
communication failed in this respect with the result that a senior officer, with a
great deal to offer the MPS, genuinely believes the organisation failed to support
him at a time when he needed its help.
Lessons to be learnt
10.84 We consider from our analysis that the MPS needs to learn lessons in relation
to the following areas:
● dealings with the media; and
● support for officers under investigation.
10.85 We hope that the recommendations that follow will enable it to do so.
● We have already made recommendations about how the MPS should
handle media issues relating to officers under investigation.
In addition we recommend that the MPS reviews its policy in relation
to correcting errors in media reporting about its officers and staff.
● We repeat our earlier recommendation about the role of the HR directorate
in relation to welfare support.
We recommend that the MPS examines the adequacy of welfare
support to officers under investigation.
The role of the HR Directorate is clearly key in this respect and the MPS
should also consider involving the Directorate of Public Affairs to determine
the extent to which professional support on media issues can be offered to
officers under investigation.
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