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United Kingdom

Access to Police Records (UK0049)

Overview

At-a-Glance

Action Plan: United Kingdom – Second National Action Plan 2013-2015

Action Plan Cycle: 2013

Status:

Institutions

Lead Institution: Home Office

Support Institution(s): CSOs: The International Records Management Trust

Policy Areas

Justice, Open Justice, Policing & Corrections

IRM Review

IRM Report: United Kingdom End-of-Term Report 2013-2015, United Kingdom Progress Report 2013-2015

Early Results: Did Not Change

Design i

Verifiable: Yes

Relevant to OGP Values: Yes

Ambition (see definition): High

Implementation i

Completion:

Description

If police records were brought into the public records system, police bodies would be required to review their records and transfer those selected for permanent preservation to a place of deposit by the time that they are 30 years old (reducing to 20 years over the next decade), in order to ensure their long-term preservation and public accessibility. It would still be possible for police bodies to retain records such as scene of crime evidence for a further period if they could demonstrate the records were needed for current and future work. The working group will determine the potential benefits and whether it recommends to ministers implementation of the recommendation made by the Hillsborough Independent Panel. The decision ultimately rests with ministers.
Timescales: The working group will report by 30 June 2014. If it supports the recommendation then it will propose a resourcing and implementation plan to ministers for consideration.


Commitments

Open Government Partnership