Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 62
62
Accepted
NPCC and Home Office fail to publish further analysis of COVID-19 enforcement racial disparity.
Conclusion
Evidence of disproportionality must be carefully considered and presented transparently, with robust systems of independent oversight. Although the NPCC conducted a detailed analysis of the use of covid Fixed Penalty Notices by ethnicity during the first lockdown, in response to issues raised in the media and questions from this Committee, we note with concern that neither the NPCC nor the Home Office have published any further analysis of covid-19 enforcement by ethnicity during subsequent restrictions or lockdowns even though they know there is an unexplained racial disparity. Leaving it to individual forces to follow up is not good enough, especially when the NPCC has pointed out that data analysis is more difficult at local level where smaller numbers are involved. The NPCC and Home Office should be continuing to monitor the data to see whether the racial disparity persists, what the reasons are behind it, and what action may be needed to ensure that there is no unfairness or racial injustice in the use of new powers. (Paragraph 468) The Macpherson Report: Twenty-two years on 187
Government Response Summary
The government responds by stating that the NPCC routinely publishes data on COVID-19 Fixed Penalty Notices, has commissioned an independent analysis of FPNs by demographic group to be published, and is committed to an action plan to improve diversity across forces, directly addressing the recommendation to continue monitoring disparities and their reasons.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government recognises concerns raised around disproportionality in the issuing of FPNs under the public health regulations in relation to Covid-19. The Government is also clear that nobody should be subject to police enforcement on the basis of race or any other protected characteristic. The NPCC routinely publishes data on Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) issued under COVID-19 regulations. The data includes a breakdown of the percentage of COVID-19 FPNs issued to different demographic groups. These reports show there are disparities across gender, age group and ethnicity in the issuing of FPNs. However, the varied nature of policing in disparate local contexts makes drawing definitive conclusions about disproportionality or comparisons between force areas challenging. As laid out in the Government’s response to the Joint Committee on Human Rights’ (JCHR) Fourteenth Report of Session 2019–21, The Government response to covid-19: fixed penalty notices, the NPCC has commissioned an independent analysis of FPNs issued to different demographic groups, the findings of which will be published in due course. The NPCC has also committed to an action plan examining how it can improve diversity across forces, to improving community relations, and to focussing on the use of powers. Throughout the pandemic, the Government has therefore conducted in-depth assessments of the impacts of proposed policies, including on groups with protected characteristics. These assessments helped to inform decision making. The Government also worked closely with policing partners to ensure that restrictions set out in the regulations were reasonably and lawfully enforced.