Operation Jackpot (1)
01 January 1991
Operation Jackpot
artdoc June=1994
Operation Jackpot, the Police Complaints Authority (PCA)
investigation into reports of widespread corruption at Stoke
Newington police station, in north London, has been completed.
The inquiry, which began in April 1991 and was concluded in
February was led by Detective Superintendent Ian Russell and
overseen by William MacCall of the PCA.
It is the most extensive inquiry into police corruption since
the 1970s and investigated 22 cases, with a total of 134
complaints against 45 uniformed police officers. Sixty-five of
the complaints involved the planting of drugs; there were 27
allegations of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and
27 claims of theft. Nine other complaints involved police
assaults.
The Hackney Community Defence Association (HCDA), which has
been monitoring events at Stoke Newington, has recorded 90 - 81
drug-related - allegations against Stoke Newington officers. In
77 cases people have been charged with a criminal offence; twenty
two of these cases have resulted in acquittals, in 18 cases the
prosecution offered no evidence and thirty-five cases resulted
in convictions (with two waiting to appear). Of the convictions
11 cases were successfully appealed and 16 cases are outstanding.
On its completion the Jackpot report was passed to the Crown
Prosecution Service (CPS), reportedly with the recommendation
that ten officers - the ringleaders - face prosecution. The CPS
has heavily criticised in the past for its handling of corruption
charges against the now disbanded West Midlands Serious Crime
Squad, when it failed to bring charges, despite recommendations
from the investigating officers.
The HCDA, is also sceptical about the outcome of the inquiry.
They expect only a handful of prosecutions of junior officers on
minor charges to result from the investigation. Speaking for the
HCDA, Graham Smith said: `Operation Jackpot has been
unsatisfactory on all levels. Its terms of reference were too
limited and it has taken far too long...Internal police
complaints investigations cannot succeed because the police
investigate themselves behind closed doors and the community will
not talk to the police.'
The HCDA, supported by Brian Sedgemore, the Labour MP for
Hackney, have called for a judicial inquiry into the policing of
the borough (See also Statewatch vol 2 no 2 & no 5)
A submission by Hackney Community Defence Association to Home
Secretary Michael Howard to order a judicial inquiry into
policing in the Hackney and Stoke Newington divisions of the
Metropolitan Police service, HCDA. 3.2.94. (Available from HCDA,
10A Bradbury Street, Dalston, London N16 7JN); Police Complaints
Authority finish supervision of `Operation Jackpot', PCA press
release 3.2.94.
Statewatch Vol 4 no 2, March-April 1994