Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 13
13
Acknowledged
Home Office progress on cross-departmental drug addiction work remains preliminary.
Recommendation
The Home Office acknowledged that further work is required with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the Department for Education and Department for Work and Pensions to understand the whole system join-up and ensure the impact of policy changes on policing is properly considered.29 It told us it works with the DHSC to implement the Right Care Right Person Initiative, which aims to reduce the demands on policing from responding to incidents connected to mental ill-health by redirecting this demand to qualified professionals. The College of Policing told us the programme has been implemented by 36 forces and, in evidence received from the College after the session, highlighted that full national adoption could lead to savings of £19 million.30 The Home Office recognised that it must also work closely with DHSC on issues such as illegal drugs, as helping people overcome addiction will lead to fewer people entering the policing system and re-offending. The Home Office told us it is working with DHSC but this work has been at a preliminary stage for some time.31 Police workforce
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.