The Morris Inquiry, an independent inquiry into professional standards and employment matters in the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), is distributing a detailed questionnaire to the 43,000 officers and staff of the MPS. The survey aims to ascertain the views of as many MPS personnel as possible on some of the issues the Inquiry is looking into. The Inquiry, launched on 21 January 2004, was commissioned by the Metropolitan Police Authority because of its concerns about perceptions held of unfairness, disproportionality and discrimination in the way some MPS employment matters are investigated.

Sir Bill Morris, former General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union, chairs the Inquiry. He sits with Sir Anthony Burden, QPM, formerly Chief Constable, South Wales Police and former President of the Association of Chief Police Officers, and Anesta Weekes QC, who sits as Recorder in the Crown Court and part-time chairman of employment tribunals. She was Counsel to the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry.

The questionnaire asks a series of questions on areas such as communication and employment policies as well as feedback on the experience of working for the MPS. The Inquiry will publish the findings from the survey on its website in August.

Since the Inquiry began, it has heard from senior officers and managers, the Metropolitan Police Federation, Trades Unions and staff associations as well as a number of individuals. Additionally, the Inquiry team has spent time with officers on patrol, visited the Hendon Training Centre as well as a number of police stations in London. The feedback from the questionnaires will help to provide the Inquiry with an even greater insight into working for the MPS.

A copy of the questionnaire will be available to view on the website www.morrisinquiry.gov.uk from 14 June 2004.

Top