Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Accepted
Police forces were unprepared for high levels of violence during last summer's disorder.
Conclusion
The levels of violence seen across the country last summer were the worst since 2011. Police officers worked tirelessly to respond to the disorder and it was only through their efforts that more serious injury and property damage was prevented. Nevertheless, in several cases it appears that police forces were unprepared for the level of violence and were initially unable to take a proactive approach to policing, leaving officers exposed to significant risk. Given the background of recent disorder, we agree with His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services that police forces should have better anticipated the risk of disorder in general. After disorder in Southport, police forces should not have taken it for granted that subsequent planned protests would remain peaceful. (Conclusion, Paragraph 25)
Government response summary AI-generated
The government states that the police have reviewed the national mobilisation plan, which now specifically describes a national public order gold role with explicit authority for national mobilisation numbers and strategy, and this plan has been agreed and circulated amongst forces. The government will reflect on these changes for the Police System Reform White Paper.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted
It is important that we learn the lessons from the most significant public disorder in more than a decade. The Government and police are now carefully considering the recommendations made by the Inspectorate as well as the recommendations made in the Committee’s own report. The Government’s Police Reform White Paper will set out how it intends to address the findings from the Inspectorate and the Committee, and the wider system reform needed in policing. This White Paper reflects the Government’s commitment to learning the lessons of the disorder, and will include proposals to strengthen Public Order Policing and enhance the longer-term cross-system response to violent disorder. PCCs must also, as the elected voice of the people, hold their Chief Constable to account for individual forces’ implementation of the recommendations in HMICFRS’ inspection report. Each PCC must also respond to HMICFRS’ report within 56 days of its publication.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗