Mr Speaker, with permission I would like to make a statement about the Mark Ellison Review. In addition, I would like to update the House on work to improve standards of integrity in the police.
In July 2012 I commissioned Mark Ellison QC to conduct a review examining allegations of corruption surrounding the initial, deeply flawed, investigation of the murder of Stephen Lawrence. I also asked Mr Ellison to examine whether the Metropolitan Police had evidence of corruption that it did not disclose to the Macpherson Inquiry.
In June last year Peter Francis, a former SDS undercover officer, made a number of allegations about his previous role – including an allegation that he was deployed to gather evidence with which to “smear‟ the family of Stephen Lawrence. In response, I expanded the terms of reference of Mark Ellison’s review, encouraging him to go as far and wide as necessary to investigate the new claims.
The House will also be aware of Operation Herne, which was set up by the Metropolitan Police in October 2011 to investigate allegations of misconduct by undercover police officers in its former Special Demonstration Squad. Operation Herne is led by Derbyshire Chief Constable Mick Creedon and particular elements are overseen by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. Mick Creedon’s investigation has worked closely with Mark Ellison and will publish its own report on the allegations made by Peter Francis later today.