Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Acknowledged
Home Office has not fully costed sentencing reform impacts on policing.
Recommendation
In his written submission, Sir Stephen House highlighted how policing productivity must be considered in the context of an effective end-to-end process.26 We asked the Home Office how it is working with other departments to understand how policy decisions might affect policing. The Home Office told us it works closely with the Ministry of Justice to understand the impact of sentencing reforms and probation reforms on policing. The two departments recognise the need for a system-wide view to avoid one part of the criminal justice system passing responsibility and costs to another part. They use publicly available criminal justice system data dashboards to track how the courts and wider justice system, policing and prosecution work together. The Home Office also told us it sits on an operational implementation group—including the National Police Chiefs’ Council, HM Courts and Tribunals Service and HM Prison and Probation Service—to understand the implications of policy changes.27 20 The Productivity Institute, University of Manchester (IPP0009) 21 Qq 22,25 22 Qq 25, 31-32, 108 23 C&AG’s Report, Figure 4 24 C&AG’s Report, para 1.10 25 West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (IPP0006) 26 Sir Stephen House QPM (IPP0008) 27 Qq 55-57 10 However, seven months after the publication of the independent sentencing review, the Home Office had not fully costed the impact of the sentencing reforms on policing.28
Government Response Summary
The Home Office will work closely with policing to fully understand the impact of any policy changes that affect policing, and is working with policing and relevant departments to understand what changes are required to help policing meet these costs.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 2.2 The Police Reform White Paper sets out a bold and ambitious reform programme to improve the quality, consistency and efficiency of policing. As part of those reforms the Home Office will work closely with policing to fully understand the impact of any policy changes that affect policing. 2.3 Under Consolidated Budgeting Guidance, departments already have a responsibility to consider the impacts of their policies on Local Authorities, including Police and Fire Authorities. Any quantifiable financial burden should then be funded for the duration of either the policy or the remaining Spending Review period whichever is the sooner. The Home Office also considers the impacts of its own policies on police resources and provides appropriate funding if assessed to be necessary. 2.4 The Home Office is working with policing to identify whether processes already in place to help manage burdens are sufficient, and we are aware of instances where provisions made are not working as intended. The Home Office is working with policing and relevant departments to understand what changes are required to help policing meet these costs. 2.5 The Home Office has been working closely with the Ministry of Justice, the police and other partners to consider the requirements across criminal justice reform, including in the context of the Police Reform White Paper. This covers the implementation of the Sentencing Act measures.