Operation Lavender - Addendum to
the final report
Independent Investigation
Final Report
IPCC Reference: 2014/029756
IPCC Final Report
Operation Lavender
Contents
Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 3
Representations by DI Sadler ........................................................................................... 3
Representations by DCC Skeer ........................................................................................ 3
Representations by ex D/Supt Forrester ........................................................................... 4
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Operation Lavender
Introduction
1.
The IPCC final report in Operation Lavender was sent to the Chief
Constable of Cumbria on 26 March 2015. A number of officers who
considered that they were the subject of adverse comment have been
given the opportunity to respond to the report
Representations by DI Sadler
2.
DI Sadler raised the point that at the time she was conducting the
criminal investigation, DCI D was the Head of the PPU.His rank was
Temporary Superintendent rather than DCI as he was referred to in
the report.
3.
Throughout the report the officers are shown with the rank they held at
the time of writing. However, it is accepted that was not made explicit
in the report.
Representations by DCC Skeer
4.
In the report the IPCC investigator was critical of the actions taken by
DCC Skeer and ex D/Supt Forrester when the family court judgment
was received.
5.
It is the opinion of the IPCC investigator that both DCC Skeer and ex
D/Supt Forrester should have identified the need for an earlier referral
to PSD.
6.
The report states that the action taken by ex D/Supt Forrester was not
a concern in terms of his honesty and integrity.
7.
DCC Skeer considered that could be read as calling her honesty and
integrity into question.
8.
The IPCC investigator would like to make it clear that this was not the
intention and that the conclusion was only drawn with reference to the
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Operation Lavender
honesty and integrity of ex D/Supt Forrester because he was the
subject of the IPCC investigation.
9.
The IPCC investigator did not consider it necessary to do the same
with DCC Skeer because she was not under investigation.
10.
However, the IPCC investigator takes this opportunity to make it clear
that the honesty and integrity of DCC Skeer is not in question.
Representations by ex D/Supt Forrester
11.
In the report ex D/Supt Forrester was referred to has having held the
position of Head of PSD at some point throughout his career.
12.
In his representations ex D/Supt Forrester made it clear that although
he had worked in PSD he had never held that post.
13.
Whilst it is accepted that D/Supt Forrester never held the position of
Head of PSD, the IPCC investigator considers that the criticism still
stands on the basis that ex D/Supt Forrester did work within PSD and
as such had a working knowledge of the appropriate way to deal with
such matters.
Tim Kimber
Stephen Liston
Lead Investigator IPCC
Deputy Senior Investigator IPCC
Final version
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