Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
Home Affairs Committee
HC 635
Published 10 November 2023
Recommendations
2
Deferred
Para 10
Commission further independent review of Met to monitor Casey Review implementation progress
Recommendation
We recommend the Home Office and the Mayor of London co-ordinate in commissioning a further independent review of the Met to monitor and measure progress in implementing Baroness Casey’s findings up to March 2024, a year on from the publication …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response did not address the recommendation for the Home Office and Mayor of London to coordinate an independent review of the Met's progress, instead detailing work on police recruitment processes and values-based interviewing.
Home Office
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4
Deferred
Para 17
Empower College of Policing to mandate consistent, values-based recruitment processes for all forces
Recommendation
We recommend the Home Office empower the College of Policing to require forces to use consistent recruitment processes which include values-based interviewing. We expect to see all forces aligning recruitment processes and utilising values-based interviewing within 12 months.
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Government Response Summary
The government's response did not address the recommendation to empower the College of Policing to require consistent recruitment processes, instead discussing leadership standards, the Code of Ethics, and whistleblowing processes.
Home Office
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5
Deferred
Mandate common national standards for police vetting, making vetting upon transfer statutory
Recommendation
Common standards for vetting should be enforced nationally, with sanctions upon non-compliant forces. We recommend the Government make vetting upon transfer a statutory requirement within the lifetime of the current Parliament. It should also ensure all forces immediately implement His …
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Government Response Summary
The government noted the NPCC's work on continuous integrity screening and general efforts to allow officers to report wrongdoing, but did not commit to enforcing common national vetting standards with sanctions, making vetting upon transfer statutory, or ensuring immediate re-vetting of officers of concern.
Home Office
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7
Deferred
Para 23
Amend College of Policing leadership standards to mandate supporting whistleblowers and reporting misconduct
Recommendation
The College of Policing’s standards for leaders must, at every level of leadership, include the responsibility to support team members who call out inappropriate behaviour, along with the duty to do so oneself. We recommend the standards are amended accordingly. …
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Government Response Summary
The government refers to a dismissals review that led to announced reforms for misconduct, vetting, and performance systems, and highlights the existing police Barred List, rather than directly addressing the College of Policing's standards for leaders.
Home Office
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9
Deferred
Para 29
Enable police forces to proactively access PND for adverse information on officers and staff
Recommendation
We support the recommendation from HMICFRS that by 31 December 2023 Chief Constables make routine use of the PND to discover otherwise unreported adverse information about officers and staff. We recommend that the Government, and HMICFRS, urgently work with the …
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Government Response Summary
The government states there is no legislative vehicle for increased HMICFRS powers, notes that policing leaders have not yet agreed on how to implement more regular PCC reporting, and indicates they are still considering other recommendations and will respond later.
Home Office
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10
Deferred
Para 30
Require all police forces to explicitly prohibit officers from paying for sex
Recommendation
We heard that here has been a lack of clarity on what constitutes misogynistic or predatory behaviour, as well as multiple reports of police officers engaging in commercial sexual exploitation. For that reason, we recommend that forces which have not …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that the decision on how to deploy resources and drive delivery in force, such as prohibiting officers from paying for sex, is a matter for individual Chief Constables.
Home Office
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15
Deferred
Para 43
Evaluate impact of police misconduct changes and improve disproportionality data collection
Recommendation
We recommend the Home Office evaluate the impact of regulatory and other changes to policing misconduct and disciplinary processes 12 months after implementation. The evaluation should include consideration of the proportion of cases resulting in a finding of gross misconduct, …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that an independent review of the IOPC was commissioned in March 2023, and they will await its findings before considering wider implications or committing to the requested evaluation and data analysis.
Home Office
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19
Deferred
Para 50
Embed specialist external expertise in police forces to drive necessary cultural reform
Recommendation
We recommend police forces embed specialist external expertise in permanent roles to drive the scale of cultural reform needed by officers, staff and the public in order to restore public faith in policing.
Government Response Summary
The government notes alignment with HMCI Cooke’s State of Policing Report and states it is still considering those recommendations, to which it will respond in due course, thereby deferring commitment.
Home Office
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21
Deferred
Para 54
Scope out a 'Fitness to Practise' regime for policing as part of disciplinary review
Recommendation
Working with the College of Policing, NPCC and other key stakeholders, we recommend the Home Office scope out a “Fitness to Practise” regime for policing. This should be done as part of the review of wider functioning of the disciplinary …
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Government Response Summary
The government discusses the College of Policing's Neighbourhood Policing guidelines and commits to continuing to work on prioritising neighbourhood policing, completely sidestepping the recommendation for a “Fitness to Practise” regime and disciplinary system review.
Home Office
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23
Deferred
Para 60
Clarify rights for police officers as victims and complainants through legislative amendments
Recommendation
We recommend the Home Office work with the Ministry of Justice in considering amendments to the Victims and Prisoners Bill to clarify rights for police officers who are themselves the victims of police-perpetrated crime. The Home Office should work with …
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Government Response Summary
The government deflects by discussing the supercomplaint on section 60 stop and search, the responsibility for stop and search research, and a public consultation on a Community Scrutiny Framework, none of which address the recommended amendments for victims' rights.
Home Office
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26
Deferred
Para 63
Explore concurrent misconduct and criminal processes, setting targets for dismissal decision times
Recommendation
We recommend the Home Office explore with the Independent Office for Police Conduct how misconduct processes could run concurrently with criminal cases. It should also set time-limited targets for the reduction of time taken to reach decisions on dismissal for …
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Government Response Summary
The government deflects by discussing the Ministry of Justice's responsibility for the Victims’ Commissioner, victim satisfaction surveys, and service improvement surveys for victims of domestic abuse and stalking, none of which address concurrent misconduct processes or dismissal time targets.
Home Office
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27
Deferred
Para 66
Consider IOPC review and wider review of PCCs' roles in police complaint handling
Recommendation
We urge the Home Office to consider the findings of the IOPC Review. We recommend, given concerns about the complexity of the complaints system and lack of clarity about key players in that system, the Government consider how the Independent …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response deflects by stating officer deployment is for Chief Constables and then details actions on rape investigations, which are unrelated to the recommendation for a wider review of Police and Crime Commissioners' roles in complaint handling.
Home Office
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30
Deferred
Para 70
Mandate police forces record, analyse, submit, and publish protected characteristics data on complainants.
Recommendation
We recommend the Home Office requires forces to record data on all protected characteristics of complainants with the aim of achieving a greater understanding of who is making complaints, the outcomes of those complaints, and the extent to which there …
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Government Response Summary
The government deflects responsibility by stating that while it provides strategic direction, it is for Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables to decide how best to incorporate plans locally, rather than committing the Home Office to requiring data collection on protected characteristics of complainants.
Home Office
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31
Deferred
Para 72
Review reporting and centralise publication of scrutiny bodies' recommendations for joined-up access.
Recommendation
We remain deeply concerned over the inadequate monitoring and implementation of recommendations from scrutiny bodies including the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Revoicing a recommendation from our report on Police conduct and complaints, we urge the Government to review how …
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Government Response Summary
The government deflects by detailing monitoring exercises related to Non-Crime Hate Incidents and crime recording rules, which are unrelated to the recommendation for a joined-up and central publication of learning recommendations from scrutiny bodies like the IOPC, HMICFRS, and Coroners.
Home Office
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34
Deferred
Para 78
Review HMICFRS powers to give directions and establish formal 'buddying' arrangements for forces.
Recommendation
We support HMICFRS’s call for the Home Secretary to review the limitations of its remit and powers and establish whether legislative change is needed. We believe the Chief Inspector of Constabulary should have powers to give directions where a force’s …
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Government Response Summary
The government deflects the recommendation to review HMICFRS's remit and powers and establish 'buddying' arrangements by providing an identical response to the previous one, detailing an evaluation of the Right Care Right Person (RCRP) program.
Home Office
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35
Deferred
Para 79
Require additional departments and Home Office to respond to HMICFRS thematic reports.
Recommendation
HMICFRS states that, while it regularly makes recommendations to organisations other than police forces to improve public safety, only Police and Crime Commissioners are required to respond to its reports. We support HMICFRS’s call for further “additional departments and agencies” …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response entirely deflects the recommendation for a statutory requirement for other agencies and the Home Office to respond to HMICFRS reports by discussing funding for the Right Care Right Person (RCRP) program and broader investment in mental health services.
Home Office
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45
Deferred
Para 110
Commit NPCC to timeframe for Race Action Plan and 'accept or explain' ISOB recommendations.
Recommendation
The National Race Action Plan contains admirable aspirations. Stakeholders need to ensure they are realised speedily. We recommend the NPCC commit to a clear timeframe for the next iteration of the plan and adopt an “accept or explain” response to …
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Government Response Summary
The government details the launch of the new non-degree Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP) and the College of Policing's ongoing monitoring of all entry routes, which is unrelated to the National Race Action Plan or ISOB recommendations.
Home Office
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47
Deferred
Para 113
Expedite recruitment of permanent Victims’ Commissioner and publish victim satisfaction data.
Recommendation
We urge the Government to expedite recruitment of a permanent new Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, so that victims and survivors do not face such a long wait without a representative again. We recommend policing proactively publish and interrogate …
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Government Response Summary
The government refers to an Independent Review of Disclosure and Fraud Offences due to report in Summer 2024, but does not address the recommendation to expedite recruitment of a Victims' Commissioner or publish victim satisfaction data.
Home Office
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83
Deferred
Para 213
Review the implementation and impact of CPS DG6 guidance with stakeholders.
Recommendation
Now that DG6 has been in place for almost three years, we recommend the CPS review its implementation and impact, consulting stakeholders before proposing changes that will better reflect an appropriate balance between the need for effective early investigation and …
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Government Response Summary
The government states the Independent Review of Disclosure and Fraud Offences, which began on 12 October, will assess the relevant legal framework and disclosure guidelines, and consider modifications to improve the regime.
Home Office
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Conclusions (25)
11
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 39
When the Home Office first proposed its review of dismissals, the Independent Office for Police Conduct argued that the focus on dismissals was “too narrow.” We agree. The Home Office’s proposals will not address the overall weaknesses in the misconduct and disciplinary system.
Government Response Summary
The government refers to the College of Policing's previous development of a 'Licence to Practise' approach and suggests a wider licensing scheme could help, but states the College would need to revisit its approach to implementation.
12
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 40
There are circumstances where the public would hold dismissal appropriate but current regulations do not provide a clear mechanism for it. Dismissing an officer who fails re-vetting should be straightforward and we welcome the Home Office’s commitment to this. We are pleased that the Home Office is engaging with stakeholders …
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the need for police officers who are victims of police-perpetrated crime to have certain rights and will explore opportunities to address this through the Dismissals Review, but does not provide the requested timetable for creating a list of offences automatically amounting to gross misconduct.
16
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 46
Police and Crime Commissioners should drive systemic improvements in local forces, for example by taking steps to assure themselves that misconduct and competence processes are fit for purpose, rather than intervening in individual cases. HMICFRS has noted that Police and Crime Commissioners currently only have to comment on its reports …
Government Response Summary
The government will await the findings of an independent IOPC review into governance structures and will consider any recommendations in due course, deferring action to a future report.
17
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 47
We support HMICFRS’s call for Police and Crime Commissioners to be required to provide follow-up comments, at least annually, where HMICFRS have not yet confirmed that recommendations pertaining to them and their local force have been sufficiently addressed. We will return to matters of local accountability in our inquiry into …
Government Response Summary
The government states that responsibility for collecting and publishing data on complainants, including protected characteristics, sits with the IOPC, which already publishes annual statistics and quarterly bulletins, thus deflecting from the recommendation about PCCs providing follow-up comments to HMICFRS.
20
Conclusion
Deferred
A regime that sought to identify fitness to practise the profession of a police officer could be more effective than separate, rigid misconduct and performance systems in ensuring that those in the service have the attributes, skills and values to do the job well. We believe this would create a …
Government Response Summary
The government states this recommendation aligns with HMCI Cooke’s State of Policing Report and that it is still considering those recommendations, to which it will respond in due course, deferring a concrete response.
24
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 61
We strongly recommend the Home Office examine measures to further reassure the public that officers accused of offences will be investigated without fear or favour – whether this be through investigation by an officer from another force or through some other means.
Government Response Summary
The government discusses existing provisions under the victim's code for referral to victim support services and the Ministry of Justice's Victim's Funding Strategy, rather than addressing the recommendation for independent investigation measures for officers accused of offences.
25
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 62
It is unacceptable that it takes two to three years for a decision on whether officers facing serious allegations should be dismissed.
Government Response Summary
The government states that the Police Race Action Plan is an independent initiative led by the NPCC and College of Policing, without addressing the committee's concern about the unacceptable delays in dismissal decisions for officers facing serious allegations.
28
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 67
In our previous report on Police conduct and complaints, we concluded that uniting the roles of chair and director general of the IOPC detracted from the ability to scrutinise the executive action of the IOPC and to hold it to account. Notwithstanding the findings of the forthcoming Review, we again …
Government Response Summary
The government's response entirely deflects the recommendation by discussing the appropriateness of a 'firewall' for data sharing with Immigration Enforcement and existing NPCC guidance, instead of addressing the recommendation to appoint an independent chair for the IOPC.
29
Conclusion
Deferred
It is vital that policing understands who is making complaints, why they are doing so and what the outcomes are. Ethnic disproportionalities exist across areas such as stop and search and use of force, and the generally lower levels of confidence in the police amongst many people from Black and …
Government Response Summary
The government's response deflects by outlining general strategic policing priorities, existing plans like the Beating Crime Plan and Anti-social Behaviour Action Plan, and funding initiatives, without addressing the specific recommendation to understand complaint demographics or disproportionalities.
32
Conclusion
Deferred
We repeat the recommendation from our previous report on police conduct and complaints that Government monitor and review bi-annually how effectively local policing bodies are holding their chief constables accountable for implementing IOPC recommendations and report the outcomes to us. (Paragraph 73) Building trust and confidence in policing
Government Response Summary
The government's response entirely deflects the recommendation by detailing the recently published Online Fraud Charter and plans for an Insurance Charter, instead of addressing how it will monitor local policing bodies' accountability for implementing IOPC recommendations.
33
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 77
The Home Secretary highlighted success stories of His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services’s “Engage” process but the Inspectorate needs more powers to drive through recommended changes.
Government Response Summary
The government deflects the recommendation regarding HMICFRS's need for more powers by instead detailing a joint evaluation of the Right Care Right Person (RCRP) program, with findings due in Spring 2024.
36
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 81
We appreciate the openness of those who gave evidence, but fear that under pressure leaders can default to a defensive position, missing opportunities to help the public understand the challenges they face or to build trust by admitting mistakes. We 64 Policing priorities urge leaders across policing to recognise the …
Government Response Summary
The government deflects the recommendation for policing leaders to engage in open dialogue and admit mistakes to build trust by instead detailing crime prevention initiatives, funding for Violence Reduction Units, and overall crime reduction statistics.
38
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 86
There was widespread agreement among our witnesses that neighbourhood work was the bedrock of policing. But too often it is side-lined by abstractions or otherwise undermined, for example where officers are taken away from their usual duties to respond to emergency situations, or the actions of non-territorial squads undermining the …
Government Response Summary
The government describes actions taken by the NPCC regarding national staff support associations and a review of diversity staff support networks, which is unrelated to the committee's conclusion on neighbourhood policing.
39
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 87
Neighbourhood policing does not simply mean an increased police presence in communities. It has to be accompanied by community engagement where community members are treated as active participants whose concerns are genuinely responded to. Community engagement should, however, not be left to neighbourhood officers. Instead, it is core to the …
Government Response Summary
The government highlights work under the Police Covenant, including the appointment of a Chief Medical Officer for Policing and mental health training, none of which directly address community engagement in neighbourhood policing.
41
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 97
Use of stop and search powers is particularly controversial and has a wide-ranging impact for the Met in particular. But this is not an issue that other forces can afford to ignore. Disproportionality in stop and search across policing damages community relationships. Our report on “The Macpherson Report: twenty two …
Government Response Summary
The government discusses its ongoing work with police forces to maintain officer numbers following the Police Uplift Programme and to develop long-term workforce plans, which is unrelated to the committee's concerns about stop and search.
42
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 98
We are concerned at the duration of the investigation following the supercomplaint on section 60 searches. We welcome the Home Office’s recent commitment to better communication around section 60 searches, along with moves to support more consistent local scrutiny. We strongly support His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & …
Government Response Summary
The government outlines plans to develop a 'People Strategy' for Economic Crime, review fraud-related training for police, and establish a new National Fraud Squad, none of which address the committee's recommendations regarding section 60 stop and search.
43
Conclusion
Deferred
Policing should provide an effective and compassionate service to victims and survivors. But it cannot provide the level of specialisation that “by and for” services can, nor cater as effectively for those victims and survivors who do not wish to report a crime or engage with the police. (Paragraph 102) …
Government Response Summary
The government details the College of Policing's existing powers regarding officer qualifications and training on police ethics but does not address the recommendation about the limitations of policing in providing specialised victim services.
44
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 103
When commissioning victim services, Police and Crime Commissioners should be mindful that not all victims will want to report crime or have trust and confidence in the police. By and for services may provide a more tailored approach and ensure that all victims and survivors have equitable access to crucial …
Government Response Summary
The government discusses supporting the College of Policing in improving leadership, upcoming reforms to promotions, and ensuring new officers receive adequate training, none of which relate to commissioning victim services or the role of 'by and for' services.
46
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 112
Victim and survivor care is one of the basics that policing has to get right. We agree that failure to prioritise the needs of victims and survivors in the past has undermined trust and confidence in policing today. We are pleased to see that an interim Victims’ Commissioner has finally …
Government Response Summary
The government describes the Independent Review of Disclosure and Fraud Offences and its terms of reference, rather than addressing the committee's concerns about the vacancy of the Victims' Commissioner.
49
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 120
We repeat our previous recommendation, made in our report on “The investigation and prosecution of rape”, that the Government strongly encourage forces without specialist police rape and sexual offence teams to put such teams in place and with sufficient resource, including capacity for ongoing training and development.
Government Response Summary
The government's response focuses on initiatives to reduce the redaction burden in digital evidence, including a working group, simplified guidance, funding for automated redaction tools, and a pilot, but does not address the recommendation for specialist police rape and sexual offence teams.
50
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 123
All victims need to feel safe in coming forward to the police and be confident in reporting potential criminality. The Government’s alternative proposals do not go far enough to address the concerns of migrant victims and survivors who may be unsure of what will happen to them after prosecution, or …
Government Response Summary
The government describes its ongoing project launched in September 2022 to quantify and address challenges in digital forensics delivery and reform, but does not address the recommendation concerning migrant victims' safety in reporting.
51
Conclusion
Deferred
We restate the previous Home Affairs Committee’s recommendation from its 2018 report into Domestic Abuse, that “immigration status must not bar victims of abuse from protection and access to justice.” We concur with the Women and Equalities Committee’s recommendation that the Government “establish an appropriate firewall- type mechanism between the …
Government Response Summary
The government details reforms introduced by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 to simplify Out of Court Disposals to two types, noting it is too early to assess their impact on justice, but does not address the recommendation on immigration status for victims of abuse or a data-sharing firewall.
54
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 137
Crime and demand patterns change over time. Policing priorities need to reflect this these changed contexts. We are not convinced that the 43-force model facilitates an effective strategic response to change especially as forces develop different initiatives that do not always align. The understandable lack of appetite for major changes …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledged that the Police Allocation Formula is outdated and confirmed it is currently undertaking a review in consultation with the policing sector, aiming for quality and longevity in new funding arrangements.
60
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 161
The police should work effectively with other services without having to compensate for lack of resources elsewhere or absorb demand that should rightly sit with others. We understand that often police will not be the right professionals to intervene in mental health situations. We believe profoundly that people with mental …
Government Response Summary
The government is conducting a joint evaluation of the Right Care, Right Person (RCRP) approach with DHSC, including its impact on police time and health/social care implementation, with findings expected to be published in Spring 2024.
66
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 173
A police service that fails to attract, retain and progress diverse officers will be unable to demonstrate that it can meet the needs of diverse communities. While 68 Policing priorities a representative workforce is crucial, we cannot rely on numerical representation alone to drive far-reaching cultural change. Instead, officers, staff …
Government Response Summary
The government redirects to PCCs, who have existing statutory responsibilities.