A collection of news articles, reports, and publications available in the public domain, which are relevant to UK policing.
The Information Commissioner’s Office has created a data protection and coronavirus information hub to help individuals and organisations during the coronavirus pandemic. The hub contains advise on a range of topics such as the use of mobile phone tracking data and the use of personal data by Government and other organisations.
Source: ico.org.uk
The EU Justice Sub-Committee have summarised what its members believe to be legacy issues before the Committee formally ceases to exist as part of a restructure. The topics included are:
The summary can be read in full here.
Source: Parliament.uk
The Working Time (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 were laid before Parliament on 27th March 2020 and are now in force. The regulations were made to allow workers to carry over annual leave into the following leave year for a maximum of two years where workers were unable to take this leave as a result of the effect of coronavirus (Covid-19).
Source: legislation.gov.uk
The Home Office had published interim guidance for those who are or considering establishing Violence Reduction Units (VRUs). The guidance outlines the principles of VRUs and contains questions that should be considered when setting one up, giving case studies of VRUs that have been given Home Office funding.
The interim guidance can be read in full here.
Source: Gov.uk
The UK Government has published its Modern Slavery Statement which sets out the government’s efforts to tackle modern slavery in supply chains. The report details how in 2019 the government took steps to identify, prevent and mitigate modern slavery in government supply chains and operations culminating in guidance for ministerial government departments being published in September 2019.
The report states that all ministerial government departments will begin the annual publication of their own modern slavery statements from September 2021.
The report can be read in full here.
Source: Gov.uk
The Coronavirus Bill received Royal Assent on 25 March 2020 and is now known as the Coronavirus Act 2020. It is an Act to make provision in connection with coronavirus and fr connected purposes.
A large proportion of the Act relates to the NHS and social care, however, there are parts of the Act affecting police powers. For instance, the length of time that DNA profiles and fingerprints can be retained has been extended by six months and it is now an offence to fail to comply with new measures brought in by the Act such as travel restrictions. Additionally, the Act delays the Police and Crime Commissioner elections by one year.
The Act can be read in full here. The Explanatory Notes can be found here.
Source: legislation.gov.uk
The government is considering releasing some low risk offenders from prisons to ease the pressures caused by COVID-19. The offenders would be risk assessed and released on temporary licence.
The Justice Secretary Robert Buckland stated that the prison service needed to “balance the protection of life with the need to protect the public”. The considerations come at the same time as a need for more personal protective equipment for staff and the ban on bringing hand sanitiser into prisons being lifted.
Source: BBC News
A Statutory Instrument called The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Surcharge) (Amendment) Order 2020 has been made. The Order increases the amount the a court can order an individual to pay as a surcharge.
The Order will come into force 14 April 2020. The Instrument can be read in full here.
Source: leglislation.gov.uk
The Ministry of Justice has published guidance for mandatory polygraph tests that will be introduced as part of the Counter Terrorism Bill. The tests will be compulsory for Very High/High risk of serious harm terrorist offenders.
The guidance can be found here.
Source: Gov.uk
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Service (HMICFRS) have published a report detailing the findings of an inspection examining the role of the police in the Prevent programme, a strand of the Governments CONTEST strategy, including the capability to respond terrorist threats.
The report contains seven recommendations none of which are directed at forces, however, they may have an impact on forces at a later date.
The report can be read in full here.
Source: HMICFRS
Police Horizon Scanning 