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Select Committee · Home Affairs Committee

Policing priorities

Status: Closed Opened: 21 Jul 2022 Closed: 1 Feb 2024 40 recommendations 50 conclusions 1 report

Earlier this year, the Home Affairs Committee approved the appointment of a new Chief Inspector of Policing, the former Merseyside Chief Constable Andy Cooke. Since then, Mr Cooke has repeatedly made news by calling on police forces to focus on preventing and solving crime. We have chosen to inquire into the Priorities of Policing at … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fifth Report - Policing priorities HC 635 10 Nov 2023 90 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

6 items
22 Conclusion Fifth Report - Policing priorities Accepted in Part

Policing fails to adequately address internal complaints, victims, and survivors

If policing can’t get its approach to complainants, victims and survivors within the service right, it has little chance of doing so for others.

Government response AI summary
The government accepted the need to ensure police officers who are victims of police-perpetrated crime are afforded certain rights but rejected opening the public complaints system to them. They will explore opportunities to address this as part of the Dismissals Review.
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Home Office
55 Conclusion Fifth Report - Policing priorities Accepted in Part

Urgently review and update the Police Allocation Formula for effective force planning.

Multiple bodies are involved in setting the strategic direction of policing both locally and nationally. However, the Home Office must provide a strong “strategic centre” and take responsibility for providing policing with the resources it needs to succeed. As a first step, the Home Office must urgently review the Police … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government confirmed it is currently undertaking a review of the outdated Police Allocation Formula in consultation with the policing sector, and stated it provides strong strategic direction through existing plans.
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Home Office
62 Recommendation Fifth Report - Policing priorities Accepted in Part

Collaborate with DHSC to evaluate RCRP's wider impact on mental health outcomes and workforce wellbeing.

We recommend the Home Office also work with the Department of Health and Social Care to evaluate the impact of RCRP on wider outcomes, for example, for those in mental health crisis who might previously have been dealt with by the police and be prepared to take remedial action where … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government accepts in part, stating it is undertaking a joint evaluation of the Right Care, Right Person (RCRP) with DHSC, focusing on impacts on police time and health/social care implementation, with findings to be published in Spring 2024, though it doesn't explicitly mention all …
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Home Office
79 Conclusion Fifth Report - Policing priorities Accepted in Part

Continue investment in police leadership training, especially at sergeant level.

Policing must continue its investment in leadership, especially at sergeant level. These training elements should be embedded within the workforce plan we have recommended.

Government response AI summary
The government commits to continue supporting the College of Policing's work to improve leadership, including new programmes for front line supervisors and tutor constables, and forthcoming reforms to promotions to embed new leadership standards.
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Home Office
87 Recommendation Fifth Report - Policing priorities Accepted in Part

Expedite solutions for lengthy case file redaction processes, including piloting new approaches.

We recommend the Home Office expedite, with urgency, its work with the Attorney General’s Office and CPS to identify potential solutions to the lengthy and resource- intensive redaction process in case file preparation. This should include piloting a “redaction bubble”, consideration of any necessary changes to data protection regulations and … Read more

Government response AI summary
The Home Office is leading a Redaction Working Group, funding automated redaction products, and working to pilot a revised redaction process while exploring legislative options, including a “redaction bubble,” to address resource-intensive case file preparation.
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Home Office
88 Recommendation Fifth Report - Policing priorities Accepted in Part

Launch a national strategy for digital forensics following budget and needs review.

We second HMICFRS’ recommendation that the Home Office lead a review of the digital forensics budget and identify where need is greatest. The review should encompass future funding needs at both force level and centrally. It should provide a basis for a national strategy to bring the service into the … Read more

Government response AI summary
The Home Office, with the NPCC, launched a project in September 2022 to quantify digital forensics challenges and review budgets, which is informing the development of reform options in response to HMICFRS recommendations.
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Home Office

Oral evidence sessions

9 sessions
Date Witnesses
26 Apr 2023 Andrea Salvoni · Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Dr Katarina Schwarz · The Rights Lab, University of Nottingham, Sir Mark Rowley QPM · Metropolitan Police Service View ↗
25 Apr 2023 Lynne Abrams · Home Office, Rachel Watson · Home Office, Rt Hon Chris Philp MP · Home Office, Sarah Swinford · Home Office View ↗
22 Mar 2023 Michael Stewart · Prevent, Neil O’Connor CBE · Baroness Casey Review, Rt Hon Tom Tugendhat MP · Home Office, Sarah Kincaid · Home Office, The Baroness Casey of Blackstock DBE CB · Baroness Casey Review View ↗
15 Mar 2023 Abimbola Johnson · Independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board, Katie Cashell · Independent Office for Police Conduct, Sophie Linden, Tom Whiting · Independent Office for Police Conduct View ↗
1 Mar 2023 Baljit Ubhey · Crown Prosecution Service, Gregor McGill · Crown Prosecution Service, Jessica Eagelton · Refuge, Nicole Jacobs View ↗
1 Feb 2023 Kirsty Brimelow KC · Criminal Bar Association, Richard Atkinson · Law Society, Zoe Byrne · Victim Support View ↗
18 Jan 2023 Andy Cooke QPM DL · His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services, Harvi Khatkar · Police Superintendents' Association, Steve Hartshorn · Police Federation of England and Wales View ↗
14 Dec 2022 Sir Mark Rowley QPM · Metropolitan Police Service View ↗
2 Nov 2022 Andy Marsh QPM · College of Policing, Dr Rick Muir · The Police Foundation, Festus Akinbusoye · Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, Martin Hewitt QPM · National Police Chiefs' Council View ↗

Who gave evidence

30 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Sir Mark Rowley QPM · Commissioner Metropolitan Police Service 2
Abimbola Johnson · Chair Independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board 1
Andrea Salvoni · Deputy Coordinator for Combatting Human Trafficki… Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe 1
Andy Cooke QPM DL · His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary and… His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services 1
Andy Marsh QPM · Chief Executive College of Policing 1
Baljit Ubhey · Director of Strategy and Policy Crown Prosecution Service 1
Dr Katarina Schwarz · Associate Director The Rights Lab, University of Nottingham 1
Dr Rick Muir · Director The Police Foundation 1
Festus Akinbusoye · Prevention Lead Association of Police and Crime Commissioners 1
Gregor McGill · Director of Legal Services Crown Prosecution Service 1
Harvi Khatkar · Chief Superintendent, Vice President Police Superintendents' Association 1
Jessica Eagelton · Policy and Public Affairs Manager Refuge 1
Katie Cashell · Director of Strategy and Impact Independent Office for Police Conduct 1
Kirsty Brimelow KC · Chair Criminal Bar Association 1
Lynne Abrams · Deputy Director, Interpersonal Abuse Unit Home Office 1
Martin Hewitt QPM · Chair National Police Chiefs' Council 1
Michael Stewart · Director Prevent 1
Neil O’Connor CBE · Policy Adviser Baroness Casey Review 1
Nicole Jacobs — 1
Rachel Watson · Director of Policing Policy Home Office 1
Richard Atkinson · Deputy Vice President Law Society 1
Rt Hon Chris Philp MP · Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire Home Office 1
Rt Hon Tom Tugendhat MP · Minister for Security Home Office 1
Sarah Kincaid · Policy Adviser Home Office 1
Sarah Swinford · Director of Crime Reduction Home Office 1
Sophie Linden — 1
Steve Hartshorn · National Chair Police Federation of England and Wales 1
The Baroness Casey of Blackstock DBE CB · Leader Baroness Casey Review 1
Tom Whiting · Interim Chair and Director General Independent Office for Police Conduct 1
Zoe Byrne · Services Director Victim Support 1

Correspondence

3 letters
DateDirectionTitle
18 Jan 2023 To cttee Letter from the Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire on the review into the pr…
18 Jan 2023 To cttee Letter from the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service on minority eth…
18 Jan 2023 To cttee Letter from the Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire on the Front Lin…