Information on
the Home Office and its policies is also published on its website
www.homeoffice.gov.uk.
Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home
Department (1) if he will make a statement on the Essex police review's finding
about the Sussex police's decision that the fatal assault on Jay Abatan was not
racially motivated; [157145]
(2) following the conclusions of the review by
Essex police into the investigation by Sussex police following the death of Jay
Abatan, if he will (a) write again to Bindman and Partners Solicitors and
(b) reconsider the request by the family of Jay Abatan for a meeting to
discuss their concerns. [157144]
Mr. Charles Clarke: Essex police conducted a review of the initial
criminal investigation by Sussex police, which considered their treatment of the
possibility that the assault on Jay Abatan was racially motivated. Although the
Essex review did raise a number of concerns with regard to lessons which could
be learnt from the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report, it does not specifically
criticise Sussex police for not treating the assault on Jay Abatan as racially
motivated.
23 Apr 2001 : Column:
134W
In the light of the findings of the Essex review,
Sussex police have now asked Avon and Somerset constabulary to undertake a
further Inquiry to establish whether any disciplinary offences have been
committed. Sussex police voluntarily referred this Inquiry to the Police
Complaints Authority for supervision in December 2000. The terms of reference
are: to investigate the handling by Sussex police of the assault on Jay Abatan
on 24 January 1999 which led to his death on 29 January 1999 with specific
reference to:
the initial response by
Sussex on the night of the assault;
the
management of the scene of crime and associated forensic issues;
family
liaison;
the
conduct and management of the inquiry;
the
investigation of the lines of inquiry;
the
racist aspects of the attack;
the
reviews of the inquiry;
other
matters arising from the investigation;
any
other specific complaints subsequently made by or on behalf of Jay Abatan's
family.
As this Inquiry is still on-going, I do not believe that it would be appropriate or helpful for me to comment further or meet with the family of Jay Abatan at this stage.