Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
Home Affairs Committee
HC 635
Published 10 November 2023
Government response
Second Special Report - Policing priorities: Government Response to the Committee’s Fifth Report of 2022–23 · published 19 Jan 2024
Recommendations & Conclusions
1
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 9
Lack of external review timetable threatens Casey Review implementation for Met
Conclusion
There are thousands of committed and ethical officers and staff working in the Met. They—like members of the public, victims, and survivors—have been let down for too long. We are concerned that without an explicit timetable for future external review …
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Government Response Summary
The government stated it would support the Mayor of London's commitment to independent progress reviews of the Met after two and five years, as recommended by the Casey report, and noted ongoing monitoring by other bodies.
Home Office
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8
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 28
Inadequate intelligence hinders detection and intervention in police misconduct and re-vetting opportunities
Conclusion
Without appropriate intelligence, forces cannot detect patterns of misconduct or criminal behaviour among officers and staff, or act on them. Proactively alerting forces to new adverse information would provide a valuable opportunity for re- vetting or intervention which may, in …
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Government Response Summary
The government states it is considering the impact of changes to misconduct systems, publishes annual police misconduct statistics, and is committed to ongoing work with the policing sector to better understand disparities in the dismissals system.
Home Office
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63
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 164
Ensure adequate resources for frontline health and care services to deliver Right Care Right Person model.
Conclusion
If Right Care Right Person is to succeed as a national approach, it is crucial that those frontline health and care services who will be expected to step up receive the resources they need to do so. As Government makes …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the need for resources for health and care services, noting no specific additional funding for RCRP yet but that NHS England and DHSC are refining resource estimates to potentially inform future fiscal events. It highlights existing record investment in mental health services through the NHS Long Term Plan and capital funding.
Home Office
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68
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 175
Actively support staff organisations and use tools to ensure forces reflect diverse communities.
Conclusion
Senior officers should actively support staff organisations representing groups and consider the full range of tools at their disposal to ensure that forces reflect the community they serve.
Government Response Summary
The government notes that the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) has agreed an approach for national staff support associations and is currently reviewing diversity staff support networks in policing to assess consistency and utilisation.
Home Office
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72
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 189
Individual police forces cannot solely design effective workforce plans in isolation.
Conclusion
It is no longer sufficient that individual forces design their own workforce plans and strategies in isolation. Crime crosses force boundaries and requires specialist officers and recruits with unique skills. Following the end of the uplift programme, it must be …
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Government Response Summary
The government states it continues to work with forces to maintain officer numbers and support partners in developing longer-term workforce plans, acknowledging the importance of effective workforce strategies.
Home Office
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73
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Para 190
Set out an urgent ten-year police workforce plan addressing officer numbers and skills.
Recommendation
We recommend the Home Office set out a workforce plan and strategy for policing over the next ten years as a matter of urgency. The plan should address officer and staff numbers and skills. Particular attention should be placed on …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the importance of effective workforce plans and states it continues to work with policing partners to develop longer-term plans, but does not commit to setting out a specific 10-year strategy by the recommended deadline.
Home Office
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80
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 201
Government's rethink on police degree apprenticeships is surprising given required skills.
Conclusion
The esteem afforded to police officers should reflect the complexity of skills and knowledge needed to do the job well. Given the Government’s general enthusiasm for degree apprenticeships, and the Home Office’s previous view that the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship …
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Government Response Summary
The government explains that a new non-degree Police Constable Entry Programme will launch in April 2024, ensuring all entry routes cover the same national policing curriculum, addressing the committee's surprise at the policy rethink.
Home Office
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81
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Investigate the impact of degree requirements on police recruitment, retention, and professionalism.
Recommendation
The Home Office should take care that its determination to keep a non-degree route open into policing is not in conflict with attempts to build the profile of policing as a highly skilled profession, and does not create more inconsistency …
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Government Response Summary
The government states the new non-degree entry route will launch in April 2024 and all routes will use the same curriculum. The College of Policing will continue to monitor the effectiveness of all entry routes, but no specific commitment to the recommended investigation or research was made.
Home Office
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82
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 212
Victims suffer from police and CPS disagreements over investigation burden.
Conclusion
As the police and CPS bicker over where the burden of investigation and paperwork should lie, victims and survivors lose out. We understand the rationale for DG6 and we note that the CPS consulted forces and the NPCC when designing …
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Government Response Summary
The government highlights the ongoing Independent Review of Disclosure and Fraud Offences, which commenced on 12 October, and will assess the relevant disclosure regime and consider improvements.
Home Office
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86
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 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 …
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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.
Home Office
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