Public Inquiry Recommendations

R1 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

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 …

Government response: Accepted. Last substantive update was January 2024. No recent public evidence of further progress.

R2 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

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.

Government response: Accepted. Police National Database (PND) launched. No independent verification has been carried out.

R3 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

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.

Government response: Accepted. Last substantive update was February 2007. No recent public evidence of further progress.

R4 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

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. …

Government reports this recommendation as delivered. PND 1.5 transformation programme approved with £639M benefits case, confirming ongoing government commitment to national police IT infrastructure.

R5 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

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.

Government reports this recommendation as delivered. ACPO published accompanying Guidance on the MOPI Code of Practice, providing detailed practical guidance for police forces on implementing …

R6 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

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 …

Government reports this recommendation as delivered. HMIC 'Building the Picture' inspection examined police information management practices across 14 forces.

R7 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

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 …

Government reports this recommendation as delivered. Transfer of responsibility for inputting court results onto the PNC substantially completed through HMCTS reforms.

R8 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

Information management Code of Practice

A Code of Practice should be produced covering record creation, review, retention, deletion and information sharing. This should be made under the Police Reform Act 2002 and needs to be …

Government reports this recommendation as delivered. MOPI Code of Practice published July 2005, directly implementing the requirement for a clear, concise and practical code covering …

R9 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

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 …

Government reports this recommendation as delivered. ACPO Guidance (2006) on the MOPI Code provided detailed implementation guidance on the key principles of information management..

R10 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

Information management standards

The Code of Practice must set out the standards to be met in terms of systems (including IT), accountability, training, resources and audit. These standards should be capable of being …

Government reports this recommendation as delivered. HMIC 'Building the Picture' inspection (2015) specifically examined compliance with information management standards across 14 forces.

R11 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

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.

Government reports this recommendation as delivered. MOPI Code of Practice (2005) specifically addressed retention and deletion of intelligence in cases of sexual offences.

R12 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

Police notification of child offences

The Government should reaffirm the guidance in Working Together to Safeguard Children so that the police are notified as soon as possible when a criminal offence has been committed, or …

Government reports this recommendation as delivered. Working Together to Safeguard Children revised to set out the requirement for police notification when a criminal offence has …

R13 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

Criteria for police notification

National guidance should be produced to inform the decision as to whether or not to notify the police. This guidance could usefully draw upon the criteria included in a local …

Government reports this recommendation as delivered. National guidance on criteria for police notification produced as part of the Working Together framework and associated multi-agency safeguarding …

R14 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

Recording non-referral decisions

The Integrated Children's System should record those cases where a decision is taken not to refer to the police.

Government reports this recommendation as delivered. Integrated Children's System (ICS) implemented across England, including recording of non-referral decisions.

R15 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

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.

Government reports this recommendation as delivered. Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) incorporated review of non-referral decisions into social services inspections.

R16 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

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.

Government reports this recommendation as delivered. Safer recruitment training for headteachers and school governors implemented through the DfE's Safer Recruitment initiative.

R17 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

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.

Government reports this recommendation as delivered. Requirement for at least one trained panel member on school interview panels implemented.

R18 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

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.

Government reports this recommendation as delivered. Ofsted incorporated review of school selection and recruitment arrangements into its inspection framework.

R19 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

Registration scheme for working with children

New arrangements should be introduced requiring those who wish to work with children, or vulnerable adults, to be registered. This register – perhaps supported by a card or licence – …

Government response: Accepted. Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 received Royal Assent. No independent verification has been carried out.

R20 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

Standards for police vetting checks

HMIC should develop, with ACPO and the CRB, the standards to be observed by police forces in carrying out vetting checks. These should cover the intelligence databases to be searched, …

Government reports this recommendation as delivered. DBS introduced digital identity verification using UK passports.

R21 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

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.

Government reports this recommendation as delivered. Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 received Royal Assent.

R22 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

Identity checking responsibilities

The Registered Bodies' precise responsibilities for checking identities need to be clarified urgently.

Government reports this recommendation as delivered. DBS introduced digital identity verification using UK passports, clarifying Registered Bodies' responsibilities for checking identities..

R23 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

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) …

Government reports this recommendation as delivered. DBS introduced digital identity verification using UK passports, confirming ability to check identity documents against official databases like the …

R24 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

Photograph requirement for identity documents

There should be an expectation that documents produced to confirm identity should, wherever possible, include a photograph.

Government reports this recommendation as delivered. DBS introduced digital identity verification using UK passports, aligning with the expectation that identity documents should include a photograph..

R25 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

Fingerprints for identity verification

Fingerprints should be used as a means of verifying identity.

Government response: Accepted. Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 received Royal Assent. No independent verification has been carried out.

R26 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

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.

Government reports this recommendation as delivered. DBS completing its 2020-2025 strategy with automation of Standard and Enhanced checks, including robust address verification procedures..

R27 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

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.

Government reports this recommendation as delivered. Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 received Royal Assent.

R28 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

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.

Government reports this recommendation as delivered. Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 received Royal Assent.

R29 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

Incomplete applications returned to Registered Body

Incomplete or withdrawn applications should in future be returned to the Registered Body, and not to the applicant.

Government reports this recommendation as delivered. Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 received Royal Assent.

R30 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

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.

Government reports this recommendation as delivered. Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 received Royal Assent.

R31 Accepted

Bichard Inquiry (2004)

Additional database access for CRB

As a priority, legislation should be brought forward to enable the CRB to access the following additional databases for the purpose of vetting: Her Majesty's Customs & Excise; National Criminal …

Government reports this recommendation as delivered. Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 received Royal Assent.