Correspondence

Crime and policing news update: May 2014

Published 29 May 2014

1. Code of Ethics published

The Code of Ethics, which sets out the standards of behaviour for all officers and staff to use in their jobs was recently published by the College of Policing. It sets out 9 policing principles and 10 standards of professional behaviour, and encourages officers and staff to challenge those who fall short of the code, while at the same time protecting those who report genuine wrongdoing.

It will become a Code of Practice under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, and is intended to be used on a day-to-day basis to guide behaviour and decision-making.

2. Revisions to Codes under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984

Following a consultation, revisions have been made to Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) codes C (detention of suspects) and H (detention of terrorism suspects). The revisions clarify the information which must be provided to suspects about their rights and entitlements under PACE, and come into force on 2 June 2014.

The updated Notice of Rights and Entitlements for Code C and Code H are available in English and Welsh along with an easy-read version and translations into 53 other languages. We have published the response to the consultation and you can find further information and links to the revised Codes on Home Office Circular 007/2014.

3. Public consultation on police bail launched

The College of Policing has launched a consultation on its draft principles governing the use of pre-charge bail (which is also known as police bail). The draft principles have been drawn up to ensure consistency in the length of time people can remain on bail across police forces. The consultation will help the College establish if the principles provide sufficient governance in the police use of bail or whether more formal regulation or guidance is needed. The consultation is open until 19 June and responses can be emailed to: bail.consultation@college.pnn.police.uk.

4. Delivering the Government’s hate crime action plan

On 1 May, a progress report on the government’s hate crime action plan was published. The plan brings together the work of a wide range of departments and agencies under 3 core principles to: prevent hate crime happening in the first place; increase reporting and victims’ access to support; and improve the operational response to hate crimes.

The report provides an overview of the achievements to tackle hate crime since Challenge it, Report it, Stop it was first published in March 2012, and includes case studies of how work is being carried out locally. It also highlights areas that have emerged or have continued to evolve, for example disability hate crime, online hate crime and anti-Muslim hatred, and what is being done to deal with those issues.

5. National Crime Agency annual plan published

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has published its annual plan which sets out its priorities for 2014-15. It also details how the NCA will exercise its functions and build capabilities in leading the fight to cut serious and organised crime.

The plan also describes the transformation plans being developed to ensure the NCA is able to keep pace with technology and develop a workforce that meets future challenges. Two further documents have been published that detail the NCA’s commitment to working in partnership both with UK operational partners and with Police and Crime Commissioners.

6. Banning Below Cost Alcohol Sales

As part of the work to deliver the government’s alcohol strategy, a new mandatory licensing condition, banning the sale of alcohol below the cost of duty plus VAT, will be introduced. The ban will apply to all licensed premises in England and Wales from 28 May 2014. This measure is designed to tackle the worst cases of cheap alcohol, and is estimated to reduce overall consumption of alcohol by 10.5 million units per year.

7. Poisons and Chemicals consultations responses published

The Home Office has published its response to the precursors and poisons consultations which sought views on proposed amendments to the current set of regulations which control sales of non-medicinal poisons, and a new EU regulation on the marketing and use of explosives precursor chemicals.

Following the consultation, the EU regulation on the Marketing and Use of Explosives Precursors will come into effect on 2 September 2014. Amendments to the sale of non-medicinal poisons will also come into effect shortly after this date as part of the Government’s Red Tape Challenge initiative.

The new laws will apply to England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland will implement a similar regime which will come into force separately.

8. HASC inquiries on gangs and youth crime and policing and mental health

The Home Affairs Select Committee is undertaking 2 inquiries: one on policing and mental health, and one on gangs and youth crime. This month it has published the written evidence received on policing and mental health and it will shortly call on witnesses, including Home Office ministers, to give oral evidence.

9. New Child Rescue text alerts system and Child Abduction Hub launched

At a special event to mark International Missing Children’s Day, the Home Secretary encouraged people to sign up to the Child Rescue Alerts service, which went live on 25 May which is the International Missing Children’s day. The service, which is run jointly by the National Crime Agency, the charity Missing People and communication provider Groupcall Limited, sends information appeals via text messages as soon as a child is reported missing.

The Home Secretary also welcomed the launch of the Child Abduction Hub, a purpose-built website providing information and advice on all types of child abduction. The hub is aimed at parents and professionals, and was set up to address some of the myths associated with child abduction, and provide practical advice and guidance. It is operated by Parents and Abducted Children Together (PACT), with support from the National Crime Agency’s CEOP command.

10. Changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act

On 13 May, changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act came into effect which will see owners who allow their dog to attack people or assistance dogs face tougher prison sentences. Under the changes, dog owners now face prosecution if their dog attacks a person in their home or on any private property, except if they attack a trespasser. Further measures will come into force in April 2016 when microchipping will become a legal requirement for all dogs in England, and from March 2015 in Wales.

11. Speeches

The Home Secretary’s speech to the Police Federation Conference

Damian Green’s speech to the Police Federation Conference

The Home Secretary’s speech to Parliament on police stop and search powers

Karen Bradley’s speech on modern slavery at Oxford University