Recommendation R5: PNC Code of Practice implementation
From The Bichard Inquiry Report, published 22 June 2004.
Recommendation
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.
In brief (written by this site)
The Home Office stated in November 2005 that the Code of Practice on Police National Computer data quality and timeliness had been implemented and was "helping to drive improved performance" (Home Office, Nov 2005). The department had previously stated in December 2004 that ministers agreed the statutory code would come into force on 1 January 2005, with force performance to be assessed by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and reviewed after one year (Home Office response, Dec 2004).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 26 Sep 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
Government response
Ministers have agreed that the new statutory Code of Practice, which has been developed in association with NCPE, should come into force on 1 January 2005. The Code of Practice makes clear the requirements for forces in relation to the data input to the PNC. Performance against the Code will be assessed by HMIC, and the Code itself will be reviewed one year from its implementation date.
Blanket government agreement does not establish acceptance or delivery by each addressee. Some response passages cover groups of recommendations.
Scope of the government response
The Government accepted all 31 recommendations collectively: the Home Secretary's written statement of 11 January 2005 records that "All 31 recommendations were accepted by the Government when the Inquiry reported in June 2004". No document states an acceptance decision for any single recommendation. The response shown against each recommendation is the Home Office's answer to it in the first progress report, sent to Sir Michael Bichard on 22 December 2004 and placed in the Library of the House on 11 January 2005. The Government then reported against the recommendations three more times, in November 2005, May 2006 and May 2007; the updates shown are taken from those reports.
Delivery
Home Office says completed (7 November 2005)
The Code of Practice on Police National Computer (PNC) data quality and timeliness has been implemented and is helping to drive improved performance.
From: Bichard Inquiry Recommendations: Second Progress Report
Responsible bodies
Who has spoken
- Home Office
Response, delivery statement