DM-21 Response Accepted AI-assessed

Review archiving processes for historic material

Recommendation

In order to avoid most of the delays and difficulties inherent in this case, and in so many other unsolved cases, there is a need for a review of the processes for archiving historic material with a view to creating a system which can produce national and local documents as required.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
According to the Official government response, June 2023, the government accepted this recommendation, stating that a new Code of Practice on Police Information and Records Management was to be laid before Parliament soon after June 2023. According to the Official government response, June 2023, this new Code is intended to replace the existing 2005 Code and aims to improve how police records are managed, providing a framework for a cohesive and effective approach to information and records management. No further published evidence confirming the laying or implementation of this new Code has been identified since June 2023.
How was this assessed?
Assessed by gemini-2.5-flash on 19 Mar 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
External sources searched: www.gov.uk, www.legislation.gov.uk, hansard.parliament.uk
Jurisdiction
England
Section Reference
Volume 1
Response
Accepted
Accepted Home Office
22 Jun 2023

The current Home Secretary will subsequently approve a new Code of Practice on Police Information and Records Management to replace the existing Code of Practice on Management of Police Information 2005, and it will soon be laid before Parliament. The purpose of this Code is to help improve how records are managed and to provide a framework to support a cohesive, ethical, effective, legitimate and efficient approach to information and records management, maximising the opportunities and benefits that good information and records management provides. The new Code of Practice, together with a new, complementary APP on 'Archiving of records in the public interest', will set guidance for preserving records where there is a public interest, as well as setting out advice on how appropriate types of records should be managed to prevent obsolescence.

Read Full Response
Source
Inquiry Daniel Morgan Panel
Report The Report of the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel 15 Jun 2021
View Source
Responsible Bodies
Home Office Primary
Themes & Tags
Police investigation management Complaint record keeping failures Corporate data issues Archive Records Management Historic Cases
Recommendation age 4.8 yrs
Last formal update 1006 days ago