Recommendation DM-21: Review archiving processes for historic material
From The Report of the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel, published 15 June 2021.
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.
In brief (written by this site)
In June 2023, the Home Office stated that a new Code of Practice, together with guidance on archiving records in the public interest, would set guidance for preserving records and advice on managing them to prevent obsolescence (Home Office response, Jun 2023). The department noted in June 2023 that chief officers should ensure their forces have systems and processes in place to identify records meeting the criteria for permanent preservation (Home Office response, Jun 2023).
Sources
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
2.4.4. 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. Certain police records are archived for their historical value and enduring public interest, for example those involved in major investigations such as a murder. Chief officers should ensure their force has systems and processes in place to identify records that meet the criteria for permanent preservation.
How this response relates to the recommendation
Site note: The response is arranged by theme and does not name this recommendation. This is paragraph 2.4.4, in its section "Information management", given once; the same words are recorded on recommendations 21 and 23.
Delivery
No statement on delivery from Home Office has been found in the sources searched (last checked 30 January 2026). This is separate from the response above.
Source
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- Home Office
Response