Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 86
86
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 219
Lengthy redaction processes and investigations are inefficient and require urgent digital solutions.
Conclusion
Lengthy and inefficient redaction processes and protracted investigations are neither effective nor fair on either victims or suspects. The handling of case files needs to comply with data protection laws. However, ensuring that the requirements are proportionate and that forces have the digital capacity to meet such requirements efficiently is an urgent issue that needs addressing. More needs to be done to pilot solutions and get the balance right.
Government Response Summary
The government has formed a Redaction Working Group to explore solutions, provided funding for automated redaction products, and is setting up a pilot for a revised process to streamline redaction, while also exploring legislative options.
Paragraph Reference:
219
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
118. The Home Office is leading a Redaction Working Group, which brings together officials from HO, MoJ, AGO, CPS and policing representatives to explore solutions to the redaction burden. The Group has developed simplified guidance to boost officers’ confidence when applying DPA. 119. We are also providing funding to the PDS and Home Office ACE to develop, test and procure on a new framework automated redaction products, which will reduce the time it takes to redact text and audiovisual files. 120. Further, we are working to set up a pilot of a revised process that will streamline and reduce the redaction burden, within current legislation. We are also exploring legislative options for a redaction ‘bubble’.