Access to Police Records (UK0049)

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.