Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
Home Affairs Committee
HC 635
Published 10 November 2023
Recommendations
14
Accepted
Para 42
Commission wider review of police competence and disciplinary system effectiveness immediately
Recommendation
The Review of Dismissals was too narrow in scope. We recommend the Home Office immediately commission wider work on the functioning of the competence and disciplinary system, linked to the “Fitness to Practise” regime (see paras 51–54).
Government Response Summary
The government outlines several specific reforms announced in August 2023 to strengthen policing standards and improve timeliness and efficiency, including returning hearing chairmanship to senior officers, presumptions for fast-track hearings and dismissal for gross misconduct, and clarifying removal for vetting failures.
Home Office
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18
Accepted
Para 49
Establish influential independent scrutiny of police professional standards and misconduct processes
Recommendation
The perception of policing as marking its own homework with regards to professional standards and misconduct is damaging. We recommend influential independent scrutiny of these processes.
Government Response Summary
The government asserts that the IOPC already publishes recommendations and forces are legally required to publish their responses, with local policing bodies like PCCs already mandated to hold forces to account independently.
Home Office
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37
Accepted
Para 82
Formally consider introducing a professional duty of candour to increase police transparency.
Recommendation
We recommend that the NPCC, College of Policing, Home Office and Association of Police and Crime Commissioners formally consider whether a professional “duty of candour” might drive greater transparency in policing. We consider that, while this would not be enough …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) already have statutory responsibilities for setting policing objectives and holding Chief Constables to account, implying existing mechanisms cover accountability.
Home Office
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40
Accepted
Para 88
Maximise efforts to make neighbourhood policing a specialism and enhance public-facing personnel training.
Recommendation
We recommend the College of Policing and individual forces maximise efforts to make neighbourhood policing a recognised specialism. Initial and on-going training for all public-facing personnel should incorporate communication, de-escalation and engagement skills.
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Government Response Summary
The government describes existing efforts by forces and HMICFRS regarding officer wellbeing, misconduct reporting, vetting, general workforce development, and Home Office surveys for new recruits, implying that current systems address aspects of culture and training without committing to new specialisms or specific training modules.
Home Office
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53
Accepted
Para 132
Set out a clear vision for public expectations of basic policing functions.
Recommendation
We recommend the Home Office, working together with key partners, set out its vision for the basics that the public nationwide have the right to expect from policing. This may reflect the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, College of …
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Government Response Summary
The government stated it already sets out its vision for policing's basic expectations through existing strategic priorities and plans, including the Beating Crime Plan, ASB Action Plan, and the Strategic Policing Requirement.
Home Office
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56
Accepted
Para 141
Monitor effects of changes to non-crime hate incidents and broader crime recording.
Recommendation
We recommend the Home Office monitor the effect of changes in response to non-crime hate incidents and crime recording more broadly, so that adverse impacts are quickly identified and the effect on public trust and confidence tracked.
Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation, stating officials are undertaking a monitoring exercise for Non-Crime Hate Incidents and have developed an analytical methodology for broader crime recording changes, with specific timelines for data review and implementation.
Home Office
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58
Accepted
Deliver commitments from Fraud Strategy, including online fraud charter, by year-end.
Recommendation
We support the commitment in the Government’s Fraud Strategy to “make the tech sector commit to protect their customers through legislation and voluntary commitments” and “help banks slow down suspicious payments.” We urge the Home Office to deliver on those …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation, confirming the Online Fraud Charter was published on 30 November 2023, meeting the committee's deadline, and detailed its multi-faceted commitments to combat fraud through the tech sector.
Home Office
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61
Accepted
Para 162
Evaluate the nationwide impact of Right Care Right Person model, publishing first findings annually.
Recommendation
The Right Care Right Person model appears to have been successful in reducing demand on police in Humberside. We recommend that, as it is adopted across the country, the Home Office carefully evaluate the impact of its adoption on both …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation and is conducting a joint evaluation of the Right Care, Right Person (RCRP) model with DHSC, covering impacts on police time and health/social care, with findings due for publication in Spring 2024.
Home Office
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70
Accepted
Para 179
Complete Home Office implementation of the Police Covenant within six months.
Recommendation
We recommend the Home Office complete implementation of the Police Covenant within six months.
Government Response Summary
The government states that the Police Covenant has already been implemented and is delivering on priorities, citing specific actions taken like appointing a Chief Medical Officer and creating support toolkits, rather than being a task for completion within six months.
Home Office
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71
Accepted
Para 180
Create a mechanism to collect data on police staff and officer views.
Recommendation
We recommend the Home Office work with partners to create a mechanism to collect data on staff and officer views on police culture, wellbeing and morale. This would, for example, provide an annual picture on confidence to whistle blow on …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that forces already conduct surveys on wellbeing and inclusion, HMICFRS inspects these areas, and the Home Office has completed onboarding surveys for new officers, indicating existing measures are in place.
Home Office
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75
Accepted
Para 192
Create a sustainable pipeline of fraud specialists with fair pay scales for retention.
Recommendation
We recommend the Home Office, working collaboratively with forces and the NCA, create a sustainable pipeline of fraud specialists, with fair pay scales that will encourage retention.
Government Response Summary
The government is developing a "People Strategy" for Economic Crime to address recruitment and retention challenges, reviewing fraud training, and establishing a National Fraud Squad with over 400 new specialist investigators to create a pipeline.
Home Office
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77
Accepted
Para 196
Empower the College of Policing to mandate learning curricula and essential professional development.
Recommendation
We recommend the Home Office empower the College of Policing to mandate learning curricula and essential Continuous Professional Development. This could lead to development of a Licence to Practise as part of the wider Fitness to Practise model we have …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that the College of Policing already has the power to mandate qualifications and ensure all entrants cover the national policing curriculum, indicating existing mechanisms address this.
Home Office
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85
Accepted
Para 215
Review police process for obtaining early advice from prosecutors on charging decisions.
Recommendation
We recommend the CPS and NPCC review the process for police obtaining early advice from prosecutors before full case files are prepared or submitted and charging decisions made. Where possible, we recommend this work draw on local examples of existing …
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Government Response Summary
The government is working with the NPCC to design a CJ Unit Optimum model aimed at improving case progression and communication with the CPS, which will include considering early investigative advice and existing good practice.
Home Office
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90
Accepted
Establish greater incentives for alternative disposals to charging and prosecuting individuals in court.
Recommendation
We recommend the Home Office work, in collaboration with the NPCC, to put more incentives in place for alternative disposals to charging and prosecuting individuals in court, where they have been proved effective and better fit with victims’ needs and …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 already introduced reforms to simplify and provide more consistency to the Out of Court Disposals framework, noting it is too early to predict the impact on speeding up justice or reducing court backlogs.
Home Office
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Conclusions (13)
3
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 16
Some will be attracted to a career in policing precisely because it provides a position of power that can be exploited or abused. Vetting upon recruitment and in-service needs to reflect this. It cannot be right that vetting practices vary between forces, or that officers can evade vetting upon transfer. …
Government Response Summary
The government noted that forces are already required to vet in line with College of Policing standards and that the NPCC is working on continuous integrity screening checks, while deflecting broader accountability to PCCs.
6
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 22
Improving policing culture means creating a safe space for personnel to raise concerns. All team members, especially supervisors, should have the skills and resources needed to nurture positive team cultures and support those coming forward with concerns.
Government Response Summary
The government highlights that HMICFRS recommended the NPCC define 'prejudicial and improper behaviour' and that the NPCC published updated guidance in June 2023 clarifying the incompatibility of using sex workers with a police role.
13
Conclusion
Accepted
We are persuaded, however, that policing could do more within the existing disciplinary system, ahead of any regulatory changes. Giving chief officers more say over dismissals will not on its own deliver a more consistent interpretation of “gross misconduct” or higher quality of investigations. We also remain concerned about troubling …
Government Response Summary
The government states it has recommended the College of Policing introduce an accreditation scheme for professional standards investigators to ensure the very highest standard of investigations.
48
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 119
Policing needs to show rather than tell women and girls that cultural change has taken place. It can start by providing a consistently excellent service to victims and survivors of VAWG. The availability of officers with the right skills and sensitivities is a crucial part of this.
Government Response Summary
The government is working with the NPCC to design a new Criminal Justice Unit Optimum model aimed at improving case progression and communication with the CPS, which will consider existing good practice and the Soteria model for all crime.
52
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 131
Officers, staff and citizens alike deserve and require a shared national understanding of the role and mission of the police, and the basic functions that policing should get right all the time.
Government Response Summary
The government stated it already provides a clear understanding of policing's role and mission through existing strategic priorities, such as the Beating Crime Plan, National Crime and Policing Measures, and the Strategic Policing Requirement.
57
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 150
Private industry, particularly social media platforms and the mobile networks, must play its part in “designing out” fraud. We plan to revisit the crucial area and the right balance of responsibilities in our inquiry on this topic.
Government Response Summary
The government responded by outlining specific actions to make private industry play its part in designing out fraud, citing the publication of the Online Fraud Charter in November 2023 and ongoing work for an Insurance Charter by Spring 2024.
59
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 155
Policing faces challenges in delivering its core mission. Simultaneously it has become “the service of last resort for people in crisis.” We agree with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing that tackling this mission creep “requires cross-Government working.”
Government Response Summary
The government details current initiatives like the National Partnership Agreement and Right Care, Right Person (RCRP) rollout, alongside efforts to improve police productivity and reduce bureaucratic burden, as actions addressing the challenge of police mission creep. These measures are expected to save significant police officer time.
64
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 167
Policing has a key role in crime prevention, but greater clarity is needed about what that role is and where police responsibilities end and those of others begin. The Government has to allow policing to prioritise its purposes and functions in the sound knowledge of its key roles.
Government Response Summary
The government states that police have a role in crime prevention and details existing initiatives such as Violence Reduction Units, hotspot policing, and the Prevention Programme, alongside the Beating Crime Plan, as current efforts to prevent crime.
67
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 174
Police and Crime Commissioners should hold forces to account on efforts to recruit, retain and progress a broadly representative workforce across all ranks.
Government Response Summary
The government states that Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) already possess statutory responsibilities for setting objectives and holding Chief Constables accountable, thereby implicitly addressing the committee's suggestion for PCCs to hold forces to account.
69
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 178
Whilst the National Police Wellbeing Survey, along with surveys carried out by PFEW, provide useful information on police wellbeing and morale, we would also like to see these complemented by data from mandated exit interviews.
Government Response Summary
The government claims that forces already carry out surveys relating to wellbeing and inclusion, HMICFRS inspections look at vetting and misconduct, and the Home Office conducts onboarding surveys.
74
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 191
We are concerned that the status of NCA staff as civil servants with different pay scales to policing increases the challenge of recruiting and retaining the right people. We are not convinced that it is feasible to recruit 400 entirely new fraud specialists.
Government Response Summary
The government is developing a "People Strategy" for Economic Crime with partners to address recruitment and retention challenges for fraud specialists and is establishing a new National Fraud Squad with over 400 new investigators.
76
Conclusion
Accepted
We recognise that training of local officers needs to be shaped by local considerations. However, citizens should be able to be assured that all officers share basic skills, and that approaches are broadly similar nationwide. (Paragraph 195) Policing priorities 69
Government Response Summary
The government states that the College of Policing already mandates qualifications and a national curriculum for all entrants, and HMICFRS inspects forces against these standards, ensuring officers share basic skills.
78
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 197
Strong leadership is crucial, especially given the current high proportion of inexperienced officers. We welcome the College of Policing’s commitment to underpinning the future of police leadership.
Government Response Summary
The government states it continues to support the College of Policing's work to improve leadership at all levels, including new programmes for supervisors and reforms to promotions and progression to embed new leadership standards.