Statement in response to the MPS accepting that an officer involved in the Sean Rigg investigation could leave the force
30 May 2014 01:03 PM
On 19 May 2014 the IPCC was notified by the Metropolitan Police
Service (MPS) that a police officer involved in the arrest, restraint and
detention of Sean Rigg, is leaving the force with effect from 1
June.
Solicitors acting for the Rigg family have notified the IPCC that a
pre-action letter was served on the MPS on 28 May 2014 in respect of the
officer’s departure and the MPS decision to accept this.
IPCC Commissioner Mary Cunneen said:
“I am extremely disappointed that the Metropolitan Police Service did
not notify the IPCC at the earliest opportunity that this officer was intending
to leave the force with its approval. This information was only received by the
IPCC on the 19 May, and only then in response to a direct request for
information about the status of the officers.
“I have today written to the MPS to invite them, given the clear
public interest in this case, to consider suspending the officer ahead of his
departure taking effect and to then go on to refuse to allow him to leave. The
decision whether to suspend an officer, and whether to allow them to leave the
force is one for the MPS, not the IPCC.
“While the IPCC cannot prevent an officer leaving a force, we believe
that it is unacceptable that officers can be allowed to do so and avoid the
possibility of facing disciplinary proceedings.”
IPCC investigators continue to seek to serve a notice
of investigation on the officer, and are making arrangements
to serve notices on other officers involved in the arrest, restraint and
detention of Mr Rigg.
This process had been delayed due to matters before the Administrative
Court.