A review of the role of Police and Crime Commissioners

The Home Secretary has announced a review of the role of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs). The review will take place in two stages. The first stage will take place over summer and will look at ways to improve the accountability and raise standards of PCCs. The second stage will take place after the PCC elections in May 2021 and will look at further powers for PCCs to better fight crime in their areas.

The review will not look at scrapping the role of PCCs, nor will it examine the 43 force model in England and Wales.

Source: Gov.uk

Coronavirus Act 2020

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

National Child Protection Inspections 2019 thematic report

This HMICFRS report presents the findings of child protection work of police forces in England and Wales as part of the National Child Protection Inspection (NCPI) programme. The findings from the inspection address the role of leaders and leadership, recognition of and response to risk and vulnerability, protecting children from those who pose risk to them and the detention of children in police custody. 

The recommendations of the inspection for chief constables are as following:

• To take steps to reduce the unnecessary criminalisation of children.
• To review performance management and quality assurances of the nature and quality of decision making
• Chief constables on those forces not yet inspected by the NCPI or JTAI to take steps to identify and implement good practice and the learning highlighted from these programmes.

The report can be read in full here.

Source: HMICFRS

PEEL spotlight report: Diverging under pressure – Overview of themes from PEEL inspections 2018/19

HMICFRS have published the report PEEL spotlight report: Diverging under pressure – Overview of themes from PEEL inspections 2018/19 which gives an overview of the themes from all 2018/19 inspections.

PEEL is the inspection of police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy. All forces are given a grading of ‘outstanding’, ‘good’, ‘requires improvement’ or ‘inadequate’ in each of these areas. The report contains charts detailing the number of forces given each grade in each area.

The report can be read in full here.

Source: HMICFRS

The multi-agency response to child sexual abuse in the family environment

On 4 February 2020 Ofsted published a report summarising the findings from six joint targeted area inspections (JTAIs). The inspection was carried out jointly by Ofsted (the lead inspectorate) alongside Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation (HM Prob), Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) and the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The report can be read in full here.

Source: Gov.uk

Evidence led domestic abuse prosecutions

A report has been published jointly by HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) looking at evidence led domestic abuse prosecutions.

The report contains a number of recommendations both for the police and the CPS. The report states that whilst domestic abuse is recognised as a priority area of work, it is often the case that evidence led investigations are not undertaken because there are no systems to flag when this may be appropriate.

The report can be read in full here.

Source: HMICFRS

Diversity in policing not progressing fast enough

The Guardian published a news story on a study done by the Police Foundation. The study ‘A Diversity Uplift?’ found that black police officer numbers increased only slightly since 2007. Reportedly 86 black police officers joined across the 44 forces in England and Wales.

The Police Foundation concluded that the planned 20,000 police officers uplift offers policing in England and Wales ‘a once-in-a-generation opportunity’ to improve diversity across forces.

Source: The Guardian

Deloitte Policing 4.0 – How 20,000 officers can transform UK policing

Deloitte have published a report which considers how the announcement of a target to recruit 20,000 officers can transform UK policing.

The research presented in the report was compiled through conducting interviews, workshops, data/statistics reviews and a literature review.

The report can be read in full here.

Source: Deloitte

Report: Both sides of the coin

A report has been published by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) which looks at how the police and the National Crime Agency (NCA) consider vulnerable people who are both victims and offenders in ‘county lines’ drug offending.

The report contains ten recommendations none of which are directly aimed at police forces.

The report can be read in full here.

Source: HMICFRS

New Statutory Instruments for Policing Published

Four Statutory Instruments (SIs) concerning police misconduct and performance have been laid before Parliament. All four of the SIs will come into force on 1 February 2020.

They are the following:

The Police Appeals Tribunals Rules 2020 (2020 No.1)

The Police (Complaints and Misconduct) Regulations 2020 (2020 No.2)

The Police (Performance) Regulations 2020 (2020 No.3)

The Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 (2020 No.4)

There are two accompanying Explanatory Memorandums, the first is for 2020 No.1, 2020 No.3 and 2020 No.4 and can be found here; the second is for 2020 No.2 and can be found here.

Source: Gov.uk