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

Knife Crime Prevention Orders

Magistrates’ Courts (Knife Crime Prevention Orders) Rules 2020, that come into force from 30 March 2020, are to set out the application process, rules about review, variation, discharge and appeal.

Also the Home Office has announced that from April 2020 the new powers to tackle knife crime will be piloted by the Metropolitan Police. The pilot will run for 14 months from 6 April, with the intention to introduce the orders across all police forces.

Source: Gov.uk1 and Gov.uk2

Artificial Intelligence and Public Standards A Review by the Committee on Standards in Public Life

A report has been published which presents the findings of a review of public standards around the use of Artificial Intelligence. The review was undertaken by the Committee on Standards in Public Life.

The report contains a number of recommendations for government, national bodies and regulators.

The report can be read in full here.

Source: Gov.uk

Code of Practice on Armed Policing and Police use of Less Lethal Weapons

The College of Policing has released a new code of practise on armed policing and police use of less lethal weapons. It replaces the 2003 Code of Practice for the Police Use of Firearms and Less Lethal Weapons. The guidance sets out principles in relation to specialist munitions, firearms used by police as well as the responsibilities of the chief officers in armed policing.

Also it is to promote compatibility of operational procedures between forces and support operations involving officers from more than one force.

Source: College of Policing

New Code of Practice for Armed Policing to be Published

The Home Office has announced that a new code of practice will be published for armed policing in response to the Grainger Inquiry.

The code of practice will be published by the College of Policing and will replace the 2003 Code of Practice for the Police Use of Firearms and Less Lethal Weapons.

Source: Gov.uk

Police leaders to start bidding for more tasers from today

As part of the new Police Powers and Protection Bill announced in the Queen’s Speech in January 2020 more officers are to deploy with tasers to better protect themselves and others from harm. On 13 January 2020 the Home Office launched a portal where Police and Crime Commissioners can put forward bids for funding to equip more of its force officers with tasers in 2019/2020 and 2020/2021.

Source: Gov.uk

Taser use by police in England and Wales reaches record high

Incidents where Taser was deployed doubled since 2016, with record number of incidents reaching 23,000 in span of 12 months to end of March 2019. In most cases they were only aimed but on 2,500 occasions between April 2018 and March 2019 they were fired. This is thought to be the highest number recorded.

Home Office is providing funding to enable 10,000 more officers to carry Tasers, with the police stating that they are vital to ensure safety. At the time of writing, a petition calling to equip all officers with Taser reached 113,000 signatures.

Source: BBC

UK Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Strategy

The UK Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Strategy has been published by the Home Office. The strategy intends to harness the economic and social benefits of unmanned aircraft, by reducing the risk posed by malicious or illegal use. In the document, it is stated that reducing the risk posed by high-harm illegal use of drone will be achieved by:

1. developing a comprehensive understanding of the evolving risks posed by the malicious and illegal use of drones

2. taking a ‘full spectrum’ approach to deter, detect and disrupt the misuse of drones

3. building strong relationships with industry to ensure their products meet the highest security standards

4. empowering the police and other operational responders through access to counter‑drone capabilities and effective legislation, training and guidance.

The strategy can be read in full here.

Source: Gov.uk

Firearms security handbook 2019

The Home Office has published the Firearms security handbook 2019 developed by the Firearms and Explosives Licensing Working Group (FELWG), the National Police Chiefs Council in England, Wales and Scotland, and the British Shooting Sports Council.

The handbook includes:

• guidance on storing and transporting firearms safely
• information on construction standards for gun cabinets, armoury rooms, etc
• illustrations of construction points in a gun cabinet

Whilst the handbook is predominately for members of the public, it also provides guidance for the police, museums and galleries that display firearms, and people who display firearms for business purposes.

Source: Gov.uk

College of Policing Knife Crime Evidence Briefing

The College of Policing have published a knife crime evidence briefing which can inform police and crime reduction partners’ decisions when approaching how to best tackle knife crime. Research for the briefing was done through literature searches; government strategy documents and research reports; and consultations with subject matter experts.

Findings included in the briefing consist of factors that potentially increase a persons likelihood to commit a violent crime and/or carry weapons. From these findings, suggestions of how best to tackle the issue are given.

Source: College of Policing