Final Report of the Morris Inquiry: The Case for Change

THE INQUIRY PROCESS
1. The Inquiry was established as an independent and impartial inquiry by the
MPA, which set out its terms of reference. The Members of the Inquiry, Inquiry
Secretary and Inquiry Solicitors were independent of the MPA, the MPS and all
other organisations and individuals who were likely to wish to contribute to the
Inquiry process.
2. The Secretary to the Inquiry invited written submissions from individuals and
organisations which the Inquiry believed might be able to assist them in their
task. The Inquiry also invited written submissions from any interested
organisations, groups and individuals who believed they had relevant
information falling within its terms of reference.
3. The Inquiry then considered the written submissions it had received, and
invited the individuals and organisations that it believed could assist further
to do so by giving oral evidence at a hearing.
4. The Inquiry received extensive written submissions and heard in total from
109 witnesses at its hearings, the first of which was held on 18 February 2004.
Of these, Inquiry Members had further questions for 10 witnesses, who attended
the Inquiry to give evidence a second time. Hearings were held in public, except
in a small number of cases where the Inquiry was anxious to protect the identity
of individuals. All questions were asked by Members of the Inquiry.
5. The Inquiry also held a forum for women in the MPS, attended by
approximately 40 officers and staff.
6. Individual Inquiry Members visited 14 police stations in MPS borough
operational command units, the Hendon Training Centre, New Scotland Yard
and other central London MPS buildings. They spoke to groups of officers and
members of staff working there.
7. In addition, the Inquiry spent a day with each of the Greater Manchester Police
Service, the Merseyside Police Service and the West Midlands Police Service.
8. The Inquiry considered nine cases designated as ‘high profile cases’. In seven of
these cases, the Inquiry was assisted by reports prepared by two former senior
police officers, Dennis McGookin and Bernard Postles, and an experienced
human resources practitioner, Dennis Roberts.
9. The Inquiry published all the submissions it received on its website, together
with transcripts of its hearings and notes of its visits to police stations and other
police services. The evidence and submissions were redacted where appropriate
to prevent the identification of individuals.
10. The Inquiry’s last hearing was held on 6 July 2004. After that date, the Inquiry
was engaged in considering the material before it and drafting its report. By
mid-September 2004, the Inquiry had completed an initial draft of its report.
APPENDIX TWO
279