Lambeth Police Station Child Abuse

The request was partially successful.

Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

In November 1997 a sex dungeon complete with manacles , chains , bedding and a sleazy red light in Lambeth High-Security Police Head Quarters in South London.Also found was a great quantity of child pornography. The civilian staff who leaked the story were suspended and Officers from Scotland Yard’s Criminal Investigation Bureau were called in.

How many police officers were convicted and what was their rank?

Where are the files stored?

Yours faithfully,

Phil Collyer

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Mr Collyer

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2013070000455
I write in connection with your request for information  which was
received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 03/07/2013.  I note
you seek access to the following information:

* "In November 1997 a sex dungeon complete with manacles , chains ,
bedding and a sleazy red light in Lambeth High-Security Police Head
Quarters in South London.Also found was a great quantity of child
pornography. The civilian staff who leaked the story were suspended
and Officers from Scotland Yard’s Criminal Investigation Bureau were
called in. How many police officers were convicted and what was their
rank? Where are the files stored? "

Your request will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (the Act).  You will receive a response within
the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act,
subject to the information not being exempt or containing a reference
to a third party.  In some circumstances the MPS may be unable to
achieve this deadline.  If this is likely you will be informed and
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right of complaint.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please
write or contact FOIA Team on telephone number 02071613640 quoting the
reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Peter Deja
Policy and Support Officer
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Phone:  01625 545 700

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Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Mr Collyer,

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2013070000455

I write in response to your request for information that was received by
the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 03 July 2013. I apologise for the
delay in responding to you. I note that you seek access to the following
information:

"In November 1997 a sex dungeon complete with manacles , chains , bedding
and a sleazy red light in Lambeth High-Security Police Head Quarters in
South London. Also found was a great quantity of child pornography. The
civilian staff who leaked the story were suspended and Officers from
Scotland Yard’s Criminal Investigation Bureau were called in.

How many police officers were convicted and what was their rank?

Where are the files stored?"
 
Following receipt of your request searches were conducted at the
Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS), Record Management Branch (the
department responsible for the retention of recorded files within the MPS)
and the Directorate of Media and Communication (DMC). The searches at the
DMC located a number of press lines that are relevant to your request. I
have disclosed this information to you. Please note that the MPS cannot
confirm whether these press lines accurately reflect the conclusion of the
investigation or comment upon the items that were allegedly found within
the police premises you refer to.

MPS Press Lines

Logged on 11 Nov 1997:

"IF ASKED: Approx two weeks ago, a CIB investigation began after certain
items were found in a small space at an MPS building in Lambeth.

The building is mainly used by civil support staff.

There is no suggestion that police officers are involved in this matter,
or that anyone was taken there under duress.

There is no evidence that any sexual activity actually took place at the
premises.

IF ASKED: Can confirm there are no police officers involved."

Logged on 14th Nov 1997:

"IF ASKED: There have been no suspensions icw this enquiry.
 
IF ASKED: There are no police officers based at Lambeth. The building is
entirely a base for civil staff departments."

Please note that the abbreviation 'icw' means 'in connection with'.

The searches at the DPS and Records Management Branch failed to locate
information relevant to your request. Please note that, owing to the time
that has elapsed since the investigation into this incident, any files
relevant to this case would have been destroyed in accordance with the MPS
disposal schedule. Disciplinary investigation files are destroyed 6 years
after the conclusion of the investigation.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet which details your right of
complaint.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write
or contact Damion Baird on telephone number 0207 161 6510 quoting the
reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Damion Baird
COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think the
decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome to discuss the
response with the case officer who dealt with your request.  

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision of
the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding
access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS to have the
decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 working days.
The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with the MPS if you are still dissatisfied with
the decision you may make application to the Information Commissioner for
a decision on whether the request for information has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information Commissioner
please visit their website at www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk.
 Alternatively, phone or write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone:  01625 545 700

Total Policing is the Met's commitment to be on the streets and in your
communities to catch offenders, prevent crime and support victims. We are
here for London, working with you to make our capital safer.

 

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system.  To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law.  Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents.  The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

 

Find us at:

Facebook: Facebook.com/metpoliceuk
Twitter: @metpoliceuk

robert chewter left an annotation ()

I saw another response to this request that concluded that indeed something had taken place at lambeth police station but that it was regarded as in internal disciplinary matter and all records had been destroyed or lost