New Clause 12 - Recording of encounters not governed by statutory powers
Police and Justice Bill
1:00 pm
Nick Herbert (Shadow Minister (Police Reform), Home Affairs; Arundel and South Downs, Conservative)
That is one concern. Another is that people decide that they just do not wish to complete that part of the form, and walk away. Those are practical concerns about the form and its potential for deterring police officers from engaging with the community.
A third practical concern is the cost of collating the forms and the bureaucracy that is created. The new clause was prompted by the Metropolitan Police Authority reporting only a few days ago that its anti-bureaucracy taskforce had estimated that the cost of completing the forms was £720,000 annually, with front-line officers’ time being diverted from other duties. The authority said that, as a result of concerns expressed by the Metropolitan police service and other forces, Ministers were considering ways of reducing the burden. I understand that digital technology and electronic forms to record searches may be available. The Home Office confirmed that a report—not a routine report—was being prepared. Part of my purpose in tabling the new clause was to seek further clarification about that study—how far it goes and the extent to which it will take on board some of the concerns that I have raised.