Bichard Inquiry
CompletedThe Bichard Inquiry examined the circumstances surrounding the Soham murders of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells in 2002, focusing on the effectiveness of intelligence-based record keeping by Humberside Police and Cambridgeshire Constabulary, and vetting practices for those working with children. The Inquiry made 31 recommendations, leading to major reforms including the creation of the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.
Key Legislation
Implementation Reviewed By
Influence & Connections
Reports (1) Click to expand
| Title | Volume | Publication Date | Tracked recs | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Bichard Inquiry Report | Final Report | 22 Jun 2004 | 31 |
Timeline (3) Click to expand
Recommendations (31)
National IT system for police intelligence
A national IT system for England and Wales to support police intelligence should be introduced as a matter of urgency. The Home Office should take the lead and report by December 2004 with clear targets for implementation.
PLX system introduction
The PLX system, which flags that intelligence is held about someone by particular police forces, should be introduced in England and Wales by 2005.
Police IT procurement review
The procurement of IT systems by the police should be reviewed to ensure that, wherever possible, national solutions are delivered to national problems.
PNC investment
Investment should be made available by Government to secure the PNC's medium and long-term future, given its importance to intelligence-led policing and to the criminal justice system as a whole. I note that PITO has begun this work.
PNC Code of Practice implementation
The new Code of Practice, made under the Police Reform Act 2002, dealing with the quality and timeliness of PNC data input, should be implemented as soon as possible.
PNC data quality inspection
The quality and timeliness of PNC data input should be routinely inspected as part of the Policing Performance Assessment Framework (PPAF) and the Baseline Assessments, which are being developed by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC).
Court results PNC transfer
The transfer of responsibility for inputting court results onto the PNC should be reaffirmed by the Court Service and the Home Office and, if possible, accelerated ahead of the 2006 target. At the least, that deadline must be met.
Information management Code of Practice
Key principles of information management
The Code of Practice must clearly set out the key principles of good information management (capture, review, retention, deletion and sharing), having regard to policing purposes, the rights of the individual and the law.
Information management standards
Sexual offences intelligence retention
The Code of Practice should have particular regard to the factors to be considered when reviewing the retention or deletion of intelligence in cases of sexual offences.
Police notification of child offences
Criteria for police notification
Recording non-referral decisions
The Integrated Children's System should record those cases where a decision is taken not to refer to the police.
Inspection of non-referral decisions
The Commission for Social Care Inspection should, as part of any social services inspection, review whether decisions not to inform the police have been properly taken.
Interview training for headteachers
Head teachers and school governors should receive training on how to ensure that interviews to appoint staff reflect the importance of safeguarding children.
Trained panel member requirement
From a date to be agreed, no interview panel to appoint staff working in schools should be convened without at least one member being properly trained.
Inspection of school recruitment
The relevant inspection bodies should, as part of their inspection, review the existence and effectiveness of a school's selection and recruitment arrangements.
Registration scheme for working with children
Standards for police vetting checks
Enhanced Disclosure for school staff
All posts, including those in schools, that involve working with children, and vulnerable adults, should be subject to the Enhanced Disclosure regime.
Identity checking responsibilities
The Registered Bodies' precise responsibilities for checking identities need to be clarified urgently.
Database access for identity verification
Registered Bodies, or the CRB, should be able to check passports and driving licences presented as proof of identity against the Passport Service and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) databases.
Photograph requirement for identity documents
There should be an expectation that documents produced to confirm identity should, wherever possible, include a photograph.
Fingerprints for identity verification
Fingerprints should be used as a means of verifying identity.
Address verification guidance
Guidance should be issued to Registered Bodies on how to verify that applicants have given a full and accurate account of their current and past addresses.
Information verification confirmation
Registered Bodies should be required to confirm that they have checked the information on the 'Police Check Form' in accordance with CRB guidance.
Broader consent on Police Check Form
The consents that applicants currently give on the 'Police Check Form' should be sufficiently broad to enable the requisite checks to be undertaken.
Incomplete applications returned to Registered Body
Incomplete or withdrawn applications should in future be returned to the Registered Body, and not to the applicant.
Overseas applicant checking
Proposals should be brought forward as soon as possible to improve the checking of people from overseas who want to work with children and vulnerable adults.