Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member and Police & Crime Spokesperson, Caroline Pidgeon AM has questioned the Met police today over their handling of files relating the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel (DMIP).
Last month the Met apologised for not disclosing documents relating to the murder of the private detective Daniel Morgan, which it says were found in a locked cabinet at its headquarters.
A total of over 150 pages of documents had been left in the locked cabinet for several years in New Scotland Yard which should have been disclosed to the panel led by Baroness O’Loan and a separate probe by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services.
Under questioning by Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon today in London Assembly Police and Crime Committee, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime Sophie Linden confirmed that the family of Daniel Morgan was only informed of the discovery of the files a day before the press.
This was more than two weeks after the Deputy Mayor herself was told (April 24th) and around four months after the files were discovered.
Meanwhile, Louisa Rolfe OBE, Assistant Commissioner at Metropolitan Police was unable to confirm why the files had been left for several years.
Commenting on the exchange Caroline Pidgeon AM said:
“It is absolutely appalling that the Met only wrote to the family of Daniel Morgan one day prior to the press being told about the discovery of these documents.
“The Daniel Morgan Independent Panel’s report was all about trust, yet at every single step of the way Daniel Morgan’s family has been let down by the Met and based on what we have heard today it is still happening.
“It is also extremely worrying that the Mayor of London, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime and the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) were not informed right away about the discovery of the documents, instead the Met waited around 3 months.
“Given the problems the Met is facing, this does nothing to build back trust in the institution.
“And even after all of this, the Met is still unable to explain why these files were left in a locked cabinet for nine years. And worse still, this locked cabinet was moved to the New Scotland Yard building, on the management floor, 7 years ago and no one bothered to find out what was inside. I’ve been involved in major moves before including when the London Assembly moved to its new building. Documentation should be recorded and carefully handled. – It is beyond belief that no one so far has been able to account for this.”
