Public Inquiry Recommendations

POH-13 Not Accepted

Post Office Horizon Inquiry (2025)

Close HSS Dispute Resolution Procedure when HSSA opens

The current Dispute Resolution Procedure in HSS should be closed once all claimants currently within the Procedure have either (a) settled their claims or (b) transferred to HSSA. No claimant …

- The recommendation called for the HSS Dispute Resolution Procedure to be closed once current claimants had settled or transferred to HSSA. - The Department …

FR-5 Not Accepted

IICSA (2022)

Prohibit Pain Compliance Techniques

The Inquiry recommends (as originally stated in its Sexual Abuse of Children in Custodial Institutions: 2009-2017 Investigation Report, dated February 2019) that the UK government prohibits the use of any …

- In May 2023, the government rejected this recommendation, stating that staff in custodial institutions require pain-inducing techniques for emergency scenarios involving serious physical harm, …

24 Not Accepted

IICSA (2018)

Registration of children's home care staff

The Chair and Panel recommend that the Department for Education introduces arrangements for the registration of staff working in care roles in children's homes. Registration should be with an independent …

- On 8 July 2021, the Department for Education published the findings of a Call for Evidence on the children's homes workforce and a literature …

25 Not Accepted

IICSA (2018)

Amendment of Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

The Chair and Panel recommend that the Home Office ensures that the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 is amended so that, where a fitness to practise hearing has been conducted …

- In December 2018, the UK government stated that the Home Office would ask the Disclosure and Barring Service to continue close engagement with regulators …

74 Not Accepted

IICSA (2018)

Joint inspection of Victims Code compliance

The Chair and Panel recommend that the Ministry of Justice, Home Office and Attorney General commission a joint inspection of compliance with the Victims' Code in relation to victims and …

- In October 2020, the Ministry of Justice stated that the operational demands of the COVID-19 pandemic had delayed a joint inspection of compliance with …

77 Not Accepted

IICSA (2018)

CSA experience for Chief Officer progression

The Chair and Panel recommend that any police officer (or staff equivalent) who wants to progress to the Chief Officer cadre must first be required to: have operational policing experience …

- In July 2019, the UK government stated that the Home Office and College of Policing had drawn up a programme of non-legislative changes to …

94 Not Accepted

IICSA (2018)

CICA unspent convictions rule reform

The Chair and Panel recommend that the Ministry of Justice revises Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority rules, so that awards are not automatically rejected in circumstances where an applicant's criminal convictions …

- On 14 May 2021, the Ministry of Justice stated that following its consultation, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme had been amended to remove the …

17 Not Accepted

IICSA (2019)

Prohibit pain compliance techniques

The Chair and Panel consider that the use of pain compliance techniques should be seen as a form of child abuse, and that it is likely to contribute to a …

- In June 2020, the Ministry of Justice published the Charlie Taylor review of pain-inducing techniques in the youth secure estate, which recommended changes to …

18 Not Accepted

IICSA (2019)

Joint MoJ/DfE policy for children in custody

The Chair and Panel recommend that the Ministry of Justice and the Department for Education share policy responsibility for managing and safeguarding children in custodial institutions. This is to ensure …

- In July 2019, the Ministry of Justice stated that it had joint working relationships with the Department for Education on secure children's homes, including …

34 Not Accepted

IICSA (2020)

DBS certificates for overseas work

The Home Office should introduce legislation permitting the Disclosure and Barring Service to provide enhanced certificates to UK nationals and residents of England and Wales applying for: 1. work or …

- In January 2021, the Home Office stated that the UK government would continue to work with ACRO to publicise the International Child Protection Certificate …

35 Not Accepted

IICSA (2020)

Mandatory DBS for work with children overseas

The Home Office should introduce legislation making it mandatory for: 1. all UK nationals and residents of England and Wales to provide a prospective employer overseas with an enhanced Disclosure …

- In January 2021, the Home Office stated that although this recommendation envisaged placing the legal obligation on prospective employees, it continued to consider legislative …

71 Not Accepted

IICSA (2020)

Pre-screen material before upload

The government should require industry to pre-screen material before it is uploaded to the internet to prevent access to known indecent images of children.

- In November 2020, the UK government stated that it had launched the Voluntary Principles to Counter Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse alongside the …

7 Not Accepted Urgent

Brook House Inquiry (2023)

Introduce 28-day maximum time limit on detention

The government must introduce in legislation a maximum 28-day time limit on any individual's detention within an immigration removal centre.

- In March 2024, the government rejected this recommendation, stating that "a time limit would significantly impair the ability to remove those who have breached …

19 Not Accepted

Brook House Inquiry (2023)

Healthcare staff guidance and training on use of force incidents

The Home Office must ensure that guidance is issued to healthcare staff in immigration removal centres clarifying their role in use of force incidents. It must liaise as necessary with …

- In March 2024, the government rejected this recommendation, stating that NHS England commissions healthcare services and that it is their responsibility, alongside the Care …

30 Not Accepted

Brook House Inquiry (2023)

Enhance Professional Standards Unit independence and seniority

The Home Office must: take steps to enhance the independence of the Professional Standards Unit from the Home Office and the perception of this independence; and increase the seniority of …

- In March 2024, the government rejected this recommendation, stating: "The seniority of the Head of the PSU will not be changed," and expressing confidence …

L25 Not Accepted

Leveson Inquiry (2012)

ICO and Regulatory Membership

In any reconsideration of the powers of the Information Commissioner (or replacement body), power should be given to that body to determine that membership of a satisfactory regulatory body, which …

- Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013, which would have created a costs incentive for publishers to join a recognised regulatory body, …

L26 Not Accepted

Leveson Inquiry (2012)

Arbitration and Costs

It should be open any subscriber to a recognised regulatory body to rely on the fact of such membership and on the opportunity it provides for the claimant to use …

- Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 would have allowed courts to consider regulatory membership when awarding costs in privacy and defamation …

L48 Not Accepted

Leveson Inquiry (2012)

Section 32 DPA Amendment

The exemption in section 32 of the Data Protection Act 1998 should be amended so as to make it available only where: (a) the processing of data is necessary for …

- Section 32 of the Data Protection Act 1998 was repealed when the Data Protection Act 2018 came into force on 25 May 2018 (Data …

L49 Not Accepted

Leveson Inquiry (2012)

Narrow Section 32 Exemption Scope

The exemption in section 32 of the Data Protection Act 1998 should be narrowed in scope, so that it no longer allows, by itself, for exemption from: (a) the requirement …

- Section 32 of the Data Protection Act 1998 was repealed when the Data Protection Act 2018 came into force on 25 May 2018 (Data …

L51 Not Accepted

Leveson Inquiry (2012)

Repeal Procedural Provisions

The procedural provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 with special application to journalism in: (a) section 32(4) and (5) (b) sections 44 to 46 inclusive should be repealed.

- Sections 32(4), 32(5), 44, 45, and 46 of the Data Protection Act 1998 were repealed when the Data Protection Act 2018 came into force …

L53 Not Accepted

Leveson Inquiry (2012)

ICO Regard for Regulatory Membership

Specific provision should be made to the effect that, in considering the exercise of any of its powers in relation to the media or other publishers, the Information Commissioner's Office …

- The Data Protection Act 2018, Schedule 2, Part 5, paragraph 26(3) provides that when determining whether publication would be in the public interest, the …

L54 Not Accepted

Leveson Inquiry (2012)

Bring into Force Section 55 Penalties

The necessary steps should be taken to bring into force the amendments made to section 55 of the Data Protection Act 1998 by section 77 of the Criminal Justice and …

- Section 77 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008, which would have increased the maximum sentence for offences under section 55 of the …

L55 Not Accepted

Leveson Inquiry (2012)

ICO Prosecution Powers Extension

The prosecution powers of the Information Commissioner should be extended to include any offence which also constitutes a breach of the data protection principles.

- Under the Data Protection Act 1998, the Information Commissioner's prosecution powers were limited to specific offences including section 55 (unlawful obtaining of data). The …

L57 Not Accepted

Leveson Inquiry (2012)

Reconstitute ICO as Commission

The opportunity should be taken to consider amending the Data Protection Act 1998 formally to reconstitute the Information Commissioner's Office as an Information Commission, led by a Board of Commissioners …

- The Information Commissioner's Office was not formally reconstituted as an "Information Commission" led by a Board of Commissioners under the Data Protection Act 2018 …

L67 Not Accepted

Leveson Inquiry (2012)

Sentencing Guidelines for Data Offences

On the basis that the provisions of s77-78 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 are brought into effect, so that increased sentencing powers are available for breaches of …

- Sections 77-78 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008, which would have increased sentencing powers for section 55 offences under the DPA 1998, …

L68 Not Accepted

Leveson Inquiry (2012)

PACE Amendments Consideration

The Home Office should consider and, if necessary, consult upon: (a) whether paragraph 2(b) of Schedule 1 to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) should be repealed; (b) …

- The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) was replaced by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) in April 2015 (NPCC, About Us). - No …

L70 Not Accepted

Leveson Inquiry (2012)

Civil Justice Council Damages Review

The Civil Justice Council should consider the level of damages in privacy, breach of confidence and data protection cases, being prepared to take evidence (from the Information Commissioner, the media …

- No published evidence that the Civil Justice Council conducted a review of the level of damages in privacy, breach of confidence and data protection …

L71 Not Accepted

Leveson Inquiry (2012)

Aggravated and Exemplary Damages

The Report of the Law Commission on Aggravated, Exemplary and Restitutionary Damages should be adopted in relation to its recommendations that legislation should provide that: (a) aggravated damages should only …

- The Law Commission Report on Aggravated, Exemplary and Restitutionary Damages (Law Com No. 247, 1997) recommended legislative reform of the damages framework. The Leveson …

L73 Not Accepted

Leveson Inquiry (2012)

Civil Procedure Rules on Costs

The Civil Procedure Rules should be amended to require the court, when considering the appropriate order for costs at the conclusion of proceedings, to take into account the availability of …

- Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 was enacted to provide costs protections linked to membership of a recognised press regulator and …

L74 Not Accepted

Leveson Inquiry (2012)

Qualified One Way Costs Shifting

In the absence of the provision of an approved mechanism for dispute resolution, available through an independent regulator without cost to the complainant, together with an adjustment to the Civil …

- This recommendation proposed enhanced legal aid or a cost-shifting mechanism for individuals bringing claims against publishers, in the absence of a recognised regulatory arbitration …

F19 Not Accepted

Mid Staffs Inquiry (2013)

Gaps between the understood functions of separate regulators

There should be a single regulator dealing both with corporate governance, financial competence, viability and compliance with patient safety and quality standards for all trusts.

- The government did not accept this recommendation in 2013 (Mid Staffordshire NHS FT public inquiry: government response, Department of Health and Social Care, 19 …

F61 Not Accepted

Mid Staffs Inquiry (2013)

Consolidation of regulatory functions

A merger of system regulatory functions between Monitor and the Care Quality Commission should be undertaken incrementally and after thorough planning. Such a move should not be used as a …

- The government did not accept the recommendation to merge system regulatory functions between Monitor and the Care Quality Commission (Hard Truths: the journey to …

F64 Not Accepted

Mid Staffs Inquiry (2013)

Authorisation of foundation trusts

The authorisation process should be conducted by one regulator, which should be equipped with the relevant powers and expertise to undertake this effectively. With due regard to protecting the public …

- The government did not accept this recommendation in 2013, stating that the Care Quality Commission should focus on safety and quality while Monitor focused …

F137 Not Accepted

Mid Staffs Inquiry (2013)

Intervention and sanctions for substandard or unsafe services

Commissioners should have powers of intervention where substandard or unsafe services are being provided, including requiring the substitution of staff or other measures necessary to protect patients from the risk …

- The government did not accept this recommendation in 2013 (Hard Truths: the journey to putting patients first volume 2, DHSC, November 2013). - DHSC …

F145 Not Accepted

Mid Staffs Inquiry (2013)

Structure of Local Healthwatch

There should be a consistent basic structure for Local Healthwatch throughout the country, in accordance with the principles set out in Chapter 6: Patient and public local involvement and scrutiny.

- The government stated in November 2013 that it did not accept the recommendation for a consistent basic structure for Local Healthwatch, citing the importance …

F183 Not Accepted

Mid Staffs Inquiry (2013)

Criminal liability

It should be made a criminal offence for any registered medical practitioner, or nurse, or allied health professional or director of an authorised or registered healthcare organisation: Knowingly to obstruct …

- The government did not accept this recommendation in its 2013 response (Hard Truths: the journey to putting patients first, DHSC, November 2013). - The …

F209 Not Accepted

Mid Staffs Inquiry (2013)

Registration of healthcare support workers

A registration system should be created under which no unregistered person should be permitted to provide for reward direct physical care to patients currently under the care and treatment of …

- The government did not accept the recommendation to create a registration system for healthcare support workers (Hard Truths: the journey to putting patients first …

F212 Not Accepted

Mid Staffs Inquiry (2013)

Training standards for healthcare support workers

The code of conduct, education and training standards and requirements for registration for healthcare support workers should be prepared and maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Council after due consultation …

- The government did not accept the recommendation that the Nursing and Midwifery Council should prepare and maintain the code of conduct and registration for …

F213 Not Accepted

Mid Staffs Inquiry (2013)

Training standards for healthcare support workers

Until such time as the Nursing and Midwifery Council is charged with the recommended regulatory responsibilities, the Department of Health should institute a nationwide system to protect patients and care …

- The government did not accept the recommendation to institute a nationwide system for dismissing healthcare support workers for serious breaches of conduct (Hard Truths: …

BAHA-23 Not Accepted Urgent

Baha Mousa Inquiry (2011)

Ban Harsh Approach in Tactical Questioning

The harsh approach should no longer have a place in tactical questioning. The MoD should forbid tactical questioners from using what is currently known as the harsh approach and this …

- The Defence Secretary stated on 8 September 2011 that the government did not accept this recommendation. The Defence Secretary decided to retain the ability …

DM-9 Not Accepted

Daniel Morgan Panel (2021)

Regulation of private investigators

The Government should act on its stated intention in 2013 to require licensing measures, introduce legislation to ensure the creation and use of standards, and implement the recommendation in the …

DM-10 Not Accepted

Daniel Morgan Panel (2021)

Custodial sentences for data protection offences

Given the potential seriousness of such offences, it is recommended that the Government take an early opportunity to amend the Data Protection Act 2018 to provide for sentences of imprisonment …

ICL-4 Not Accepted

ICL Inquiry (2009)

Independent Risk Assessment Audit

The current risk assessment system should be improved by the addition of an independent audit process.

RHI-43 Not Accepted

RHI Inquiry (2020)

Independent Compliance Assessment

In addition, the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly ought, in the Inquiry's view, to give due consideration to an independent mechanism to assess compliance with codes of conduct in public …

- In October 2021, the NI Executive accepted this recommendation in full (NI Executive Response to RHI Inquiry, Department of Finance, October 2021). - The …

12a Not Accepted

Paterson Inquiry (2020)

Suspension during investigation

We recommend that if, when a hospital investigates a healthcare professional's behaviour, including the use of an HR process, any perceived risk to patient safety should result in the suspension …

- The government did not accept the recommendation for automatic suspension, stating that suspension should be based on individual risk assessments (Government Response to the …