Data Protection Act: amendment could free up officers’ time

12 December 2024

A proposed amendment to the Data Protection Act 2018 could provide a first step towards reducing the bureaucracy and extra paperwork that currently burden police officers and particularly detectives, according to West Midlands Police Federation detectives’ representative, Jon Nott. 

Jon, who is the branch’s joint personnel and equalities lead and also the deputy chair of the Police Federation’s National Detectives’ Forum, was speaking after Baroness Morgan of Cotes formally tabled a national Police Federation amendment to the Data (Use and Access Bill) introduced on 23 October in the House of Lords.

“As a Federation, we continue to try to find a solution to the problems created when DG6 guidelines were introduced, in late December 2020,” says Jon.

“We are acutely aware of the hours and work needed by officers to comply with the current law, so we are keen to try to simplify the guidance and make everyone’s life easier. 

Paperwork

“It is good to see that our campaigning has found a sponsor, and we are grateful to the Baroness for tabling the proposed amendment which should provide a first step towards reducing the bureaucracy and extra paperwork for officers.

“This will then help officers to concentrate on other cases and bring more offenders to justice while also, hopefully, providing swifter justice for victims.”

The amendment, if supported, will allow unredacted data sharing between the police and the Crown Prosecution Service at the pre-charge stage which could save hundreds, if not thousands, of police hours.

West Midlands Police Federation detectives’ representative, Jon Nott. 

The Federation has emphasised that the Government must back a legally approved clause in the Data (Use and Access) Bill to deliver on its manifesto promise of getting police officers back on the streets by freeing up thousands of hours.

The bill will be debated in the Lords over the coming weeks and will then return to the House of Commons for discussion and further committee stages.

Detectives

Police Federation National Detectives’ Forum chair Ben Hudson said: “Our #SimplifyDG6 campaign has already received cross-party support and the proposed, legally approved, clause would have no obvious disadvantages. Security of personal data would not be compromised. The redactions, which are needed to protect our personal data, would still be undertaken, however, this would be done at the appropriate stage.

“The Prime Minister has outlined the Government’s plans for change, stressing its aim is to make public services work for working people. To achieve this, it is vital that investment in policing does not just keep coming from taxpayers’ pockets, as council tax precepts continue to rise year on year in many areas.”

He adds: “We must see police officers back within their communities rather than being stuck at computers, and our members being able to do what they joined up for; serve the public, keep them same safe and prevent and detect crime.”

On average, since 1 January 2021, 365,000 policing hours have been spent annually in redacting case files pre-charge to comply with the requirements of DG6.

READ MORE: Federation mag is out now.