Policing priorities

Home Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 21 Jul 2022 Closed: 1 Feb 2024 Parliament page
Earlier this year, the Home Affairs Committee approved the appointment of a new Chief Inspector of Policing, the former Merseyside Chief Constable Andy Cooke. Since then, Mr Cooke has repeatedly made news by calling on police forces to focus on preventing and solving crime. We have chosen to inquire into … Read more
40 Recommendations
50 Conclusions
1 Report
9 Oral sessions
3 Letters
9 Events
Activity timeline 23 events
19 Jan
2024
Report published
10 Nov
2023
Report published
26 Apr
2023
Oral evidence
26 Apr
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
25 Apr
2023
Oral evidence
25 Apr
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
22 Mar
2023
Oral evidence
22 Mar
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
15 Mar
2023
Oral evidence
15 Mar
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
1 Mar
2023
Oral evidence
1 Mar
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 9 sessions
26 Apr 2023
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Andrea Salvoni · Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe Dr Katarina Schwarz · The Rights Lab, University of Nottingham Sir Mark Rowley QPM · Metropolitan Police Service
25 Apr 2023
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Lynne Abrams · Home Office Rachel Watson · Home Office Rt Hon Chris Philp MP · Home Office Sarah Swinford · Home Office
22 Mar 2023
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Michael Stewart · Prevent Neil O’Connor CBE · Baroness Casey Review Rt Hon Tom Tugendhat MP · Home Office Sarah Kincaid · Home Office The Baroness Casey of Blackstock DBE CB · Baroness Casey Review
15 Mar 2023
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Abimbola Johnson · Independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board Katie Cashell · Independent Office for Police Conduct Sophie Linden Tom Whiting · Independent Office for Police Conduct
1 Mar 2023
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Baljit Ubhey · Crown Prosecution Service Gregor McGill · Crown Prosecution Service Jessica Eagelton · Refuge Nicole Jacobs
1 Feb 2023
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Kirsty Brimelow KC · Criminal Bar Association Richard Atkinson · Law Society Zoe Byrne · Victim Support
18 Jan 2023
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Andy Cooke QPM DL · His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services Harvi Khatkar · Police Superintendents' Association Steve Hartshorn · Police Federation of England and Wales
14 Dec 2022
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Sir Mark Rowley QPM · Metropolitan Police Service
2 Nov 2022
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Andy Marsh QPM · College of Policing Dr Rick Muir · The Police Foundation Festus Akinbusoye · Association of Police and Crime Commissioners Martin Hewitt QPM · National Police Chiefs' Council
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fifth Report - Policing priorities HC 635 10 Nov 2023 90 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
27 results
Clear
3 Conclusion Accepted
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
Inconsistent police vetting practices and evaded transfer vetting undermine public trust
Some will be attracted to a career in policing precisely because it provides a position of power that can be exploited or abused. Vetting upon recruitment and in-service needs to reflect this. It cannot be right that vetting practices vary … Read more
Government Response
The government noted that forces are already required to vet in line with College of Policing standards and that the NPCC is working on continuous integrity screening checks, while deflecting broader accountability to PCCs.
Home Office
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6 Conclusion Accepted
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
Safe spaces and skilled supervisors essential for improving policing culture and raising concerns
Improving policing culture means creating a safe space for personnel to raise concerns. All team members, especially supervisors, should have the skills and resources needed to nurture positive team cultures and support those coming forward with concerns. Read more
Government Response
The government highlights that HMICFRS recommended the NPCC define 'prejudicial and improper behaviour' and that the NPCC published updated guidance in June 2023 clarifying the incompatibility of using sex workers with a police role.
Home Office
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13 Conclusion Accepted
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
Increased chief officer powers insufficient to address systemic misconduct issues or race disparities
We are persuaded, however, that policing could do more within the existing disciplinary system, ahead of any regulatory changes. Giving chief officers more say over dismissals will not on its own deliver a more consistent interpretation of “gross misconduct” or … Read more
Government Response
The government states it has recommended the College of Policing introduce an accreditation scheme for professional standards investigators to ensure the very highest standard of investigations.
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14 Recommendation Accepted
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
Commission wider review of police competence and disciplinary system effectiveness immediately
The Review of Dismissals was too narrow in scope. We recommend the Home Office immediately commission wider work on the functioning of the competence and disciplinary system, linked to the “Fitness to Practise” regime (see paras 51–54).
Government Response
The government outlines several specific reforms announced in August 2023 to strengthen policing standards and improve timeliness and efficiency, including returning hearing chairmanship to senior officers, presumptions for fast-track hearings and dismissal for gross misconduct, and clarifying removal for vetting failures.
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18 Recommendation Accepted
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
Establish influential independent scrutiny of police professional standards and misconduct processes
The perception of policing as marking its own homework with regards to professional standards and misconduct is damaging. We recommend influential independent scrutiny of these processes.
Government Response
The government asserts that the IOPC already publishes recommendations and forces are legally required to publish their responses, with local policing bodies like PCCs already mandated to hold forces to account independently.
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37 Recommendation Accepted
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
Formally consider introducing a professional duty of candour to increase police transparency.
We recommend that the NPCC, College of Policing, Home Office and Association of Police and Crime Commissioners formally consider whether a professional “duty of candour” might drive greater transparency in policing. We consider that, while this would not be enough … Read more
Government Response
The government states that Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) already have statutory responsibilities for setting policing objectives and holding Chief Constables to account, implying existing mechanisms cover accountability.
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40 Recommendation Accepted
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
Maximise efforts to make neighbourhood policing a specialism and enhance public-facing personnel training.
We recommend the College of Policing and individual forces maximise efforts to make neighbourhood policing a recognised specialism. Initial and on-going training for all public-facing personnel should incorporate communication, de-escalation and engagement skills. Read more
Government Response
The government describes existing efforts by forces and HMICFRS regarding officer wellbeing, misconduct reporting, vetting, general workforce development, and Home Office surveys for new recruits, implying that current systems address aspects of culture and training without committing to new specialisms or specific training modules.
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48 Conclusion Accepted
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
Policing must demonstrate cultural change through excellent service for VAWG victims.
Policing needs to show rather than tell women and girls that cultural change has taken place. It can start by providing a consistently excellent service to victims and survivors of VAWG. The availability of officers with the right skills and … Read more
Government Response
The government is working with the NPCC to design a new Criminal Justice Unit Optimum model aimed at improving case progression and communication with the CPS, which will consider existing good practice and the Soteria model for all crime.
Home Office
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52 Conclusion Accepted
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
Shared national understanding of police role and basic functions is essential.
Officers, staff and citizens alike deserve and require a shared national understanding of the role and mission of the police, and the basic functions that policing should get right all the time.
Government Response
The government stated it already provides a clear understanding of policing's role and mission through existing strategic priorities, such as the Beating Crime Plan, National Crime and Policing Measures, and the Strategic Policing Requirement.
Home Office
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53 Recommendation Accepted
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
Set out a clear vision for public expectations of basic policing functions.
We recommend the Home Office, working together with key partners, set out its vision for the basics that the public nationwide have the right to expect from policing. This may reflect the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, College of … Read more
Government Response
The government stated it already sets out its vision for policing's basic expectations through existing strategic priorities and plans, including the Beating Crime Plan, ASB Action Plan, and the Strategic Policing Requirement.
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56 Recommendation Accepted
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
Monitor effects of changes to non-crime hate incidents and broader crime recording.
We recommend the Home Office monitor the effect of changes in response to non-crime hate incidents and crime recording more broadly, so that adverse impacts are quickly identified and the effect on public trust and confidence tracked.
Government Response
The government accepted the recommendation, stating officials are undertaking a monitoring exercise for Non-Crime Hate Incidents and have developed an analytical methodology for broader crime recording changes, with specific timelines for data review and implementation.
Home Office
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57 Conclusion Accepted
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
Private industry must actively contribute to designing out fraud.
Private industry, particularly social media platforms and the mobile networks, must play its part in “designing out” fraud. We plan to revisit the crucial area and the right balance of responsibilities in our inquiry on this topic.
Government Response
The government responded by outlining specific actions to make private industry play its part in designing out fraud, citing the publication of the Online Fraud Charter in November 2023 and ongoing work for an Insurance Charter by Spring 2024.
Home Office
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58 Recommendation Accepted
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
Deliver commitments from Fraud Strategy, including online fraud charter, by year-end.
We support the commitment in the Government’s Fraud Strategy to “make the tech sector commit to protect their customers through legislation and voluntary commitments” and “help banks slow down suspicious payments.” We urge the Home Office to deliver on those … Read more
Government Response
The government accepted the recommendation, confirming the Online Fraud Charter was published on 30 November 2023, meeting the committee's deadline, and detailed its multi-faceted commitments to combat fraud through the tech sector.
Home Office
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59 Conclusion Accepted
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
Policing mission creep requires urgent cross-Government action to address its scope.
Policing faces challenges in delivering its core mission. Simultaneously it has become “the service of last resort for people in crisis.” We agree with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing that tackling this mission creep “requires cross-Government … Read more
Government Response
The government details current initiatives like the National Partnership Agreement and Right Care, Right Person (RCRP) rollout, alongside efforts to improve police productivity and reduce bureaucratic burden, as actions addressing the challenge of police mission creep. These measures are expected to save significant police officer time.
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61 Recommendation Accepted
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
Evaluate the nationwide impact of Right Care Right Person model, publishing first findings annually.
The Right Care Right Person model appears to have been successful in reducing demand on police in Humberside. We recommend that, as it is adopted across the country, the Home Office carefully evaluate the impact of its adoption on both … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation and is conducting a joint evaluation of the Right Care, Right Person (RCRP) model with DHSC, covering impacts on police time and health/social care, with findings due for publication in Spring 2024.
Home Office
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64 Conclusion Accepted
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
Clarity needed on policing's crime prevention role and its boundaries with other services.
Policing has a key role in crime prevention, but greater clarity is needed about what that role is and where police responsibilities end and those of others begin. The Government has to allow policing to prioritise its purposes and functions … Read more
Government Response
The government states that police have a role in crime prevention and details existing initiatives such as Violence Reduction Units, hotspot policing, and the Prevention Programme, alongside the Beating Crime Plan, as current efforts to prevent crime.
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67 Conclusion Accepted
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
Hold forces to account for recruiting and progressing a broadly representative workforce.
Police and Crime Commissioners should hold forces to account on efforts to recruit, retain and progress a broadly representative workforce across all ranks.
Government Response
The government states that Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) already possess statutory responsibilities for setting objectives and holding Chief Constables accountable, thereby implicitly addressing the committee's suggestion for PCCs to hold forces to account.
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69 Conclusion Accepted
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
Complement existing police wellbeing surveys with data from mandated exit interviews.
Whilst the National Police Wellbeing Survey, along with surveys carried out by PFEW, provide useful information on police wellbeing and morale, we would also like to see these complemented by data from mandated exit interviews.
Government Response
The government claims that forces already carry out surveys relating to wellbeing and inclusion, HMICFRS inspections look at vetting and misconduct, and the Home Office conducts onboarding surveys.
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70 Recommendation Accepted
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
Complete Home Office implementation of the Police Covenant within six months.
We recommend the Home Office complete implementation of the Police Covenant within six months.
Government Response
The government states that the Police Covenant has already been implemented and is delivering on priorities, citing specific actions taken like appointing a Chief Medical Officer and creating support toolkits, rather than being a task for completion within six months.
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71 Recommendation Accepted
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
Create a mechanism to collect data on police staff and officer views.
We recommend the Home Office work with partners to create a mechanism to collect data on staff and officer views on police culture, wellbeing and morale. This would, for example, provide an annual picture on confidence to whistle blow on … Read more
Government Response
The government states that forces already conduct surveys on wellbeing and inclusion, HMICFRS inspects these areas, and the Home Office has completed onboarding surveys for new officers, indicating existing measures are in place.
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74 Conclusion Accepted
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
NCA staff civil servant status hinders recruitment and retention of fraud specialists.
We are concerned that the status of NCA staff as civil servants with different pay scales to policing increases the challenge of recruiting and retaining the right people. We are not convinced that it is feasible to recruit 400 entirely … Read more
Government Response
The government is developing a "People Strategy" for Economic Crime with partners to address recruitment and retention challenges for fraud specialists and is establishing a new National Fraud Squad with over 400 new investigators.
Home Office
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75 Recommendation Accepted
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
Create a sustainable pipeline of fraud specialists with fair pay scales for retention.
We recommend the Home Office, working collaboratively with forces and the NCA, create a sustainable pipeline of fraud specialists, with fair pay scales that will encourage retention.
Government Response
The government is developing a "People Strategy" for Economic Crime to address recruitment and retention challenges, reviewing fraud training, and establishing a National Fraud Squad with over 400 new specialist investigators to create a pipeline.
Home Office
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76 Conclusion Accepted
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
All police officers require shared basic skills and similar nationwide approaches.
We recognise that training of local officers needs to be shaped by local considerations. However, citizens should be able to be assured that all officers share basic skills, and that approaches are broadly similar nationwide. (Paragraph 195) Policing priorities 69 Read more
Government Response
The government states that the College of Policing already mandates qualifications and a national curriculum for all entrants, and HMICFRS inspects forces against these standards, ensuring officers share basic skills.
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77 Recommendation Accepted
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
Empower the College of Policing to mandate learning curricula and essential professional development.
We recommend the Home Office empower the College of Policing to mandate learning curricula and essential Continuous Professional Development. This could lead to development of a Licence to Practise as part of the wider Fitness to Practise model we have … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the College of Policing already has the power to mandate qualifications and ensure all entrants cover the national policing curriculum, indicating existing mechanisms address this.
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78 Conclusion Accepted
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
Strong leadership crucial for policing, especially with many inexperienced officers.
Strong leadership is crucial, especially given the current high proportion of inexperienced officers. We welcome the College of Policing’s commitment to underpinning the future of police leadership.
Government Response
The government states it continues to support the College of Policing's work to improve leadership at all levels, including new programmes for supervisors and reforms to promotions and progression to embed new leadership standards.
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85 Recommendation Accepted
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
Review police process for obtaining early advice from prosecutors on charging decisions.
We recommend the CPS and NPCC review the process for police obtaining early advice from prosecutors before full case files are prepared or submitted and charging decisions made. Where possible, we recommend this work draw on local examples of existing … Read more
Government Response
The government is working with the NPCC to design a CJ Unit Optimum model aimed at improving case progression and communication with the CPS, which will include considering early investigative advice and existing good practice.
Home Office
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90 Recommendation Accepted
Fifth Report - Policing priorities
Establish greater incentives for alternative disposals to charging and prosecuting individuals in court.
We recommend the Home Office work, in collaboration with the NPCC, to put more incentives in place for alternative disposals to charging and prosecuting individuals in court, where they have been proved effective and better fit with victims’ needs and … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 already introduced reforms to simplify and provide more consistency to the Out of Court Disposals framework, noting it is too early to predict the impact on speeding up justice or reducing court backlogs.
Home Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 89 of 40 classified
Accepted 27
Accepted in Part 6
Acknowledged 10
Deferred 44
Not Addressed 1
Rejected 1
Total 40 recs + 50 conclusions
Correspondence 3 letters
18 Jan 2023 To committee Letter from the Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire on the Front Line Review, dated 9 January 2023
Parliament page
18 Jan 2023 To committee Letter from the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service on minority ethnic groups within the Metropolitan Police Service, dated 4 January 2023
Parliament page
18 Jan 2023 To committee Letter from the Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire on the review into the process of police officer dismissals, dated 17 January 2023
Parliament page