Recommendation R6: PNC data quality inspection
From The Bichard Inquiry Report, published 22 June 2004.
Recommendation
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).
In brief (written by this site)
The Home Office reported in November 2005 that the recommendation had been "implemented and mainstreamed" (Home Office, Nov 2005). In December 2004, the department stated that Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary had fully incorporated Police National Computer audit and inspection into the regime supporting its baseline assessments (Home Office response, Dec 2004). It noted that core performance measures were being added to the Police Standards Unit's database and would be incorporated into the 2005 Policing Performance Assessment Framework as key diagnostic indicators (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
HMIC has fully incorporated PNC audit and inspection into the risk-assessed inspection regime supporting Baseline Assessment. The strengthened audit team is working to an updated set of protocols and the core performance measures have now been added to the Police Standards Unit’s (PSU’s) iQuanta database and will be incorporated into the 2005 PPAF as Key Diagnostic Indicators (KDIs). Performance against standards will be closely monitored within a structured action-planning and escalation process.
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)
Recommendation 6 – Implemented and mainstreamed
From: Bichard Inquiry Recommendations: Second Progress Report
Responsible bodies
Who has spoken
- Home Office
Response, delivery statement