Police Federation-backed amendment to Data Protection Act brought before House of Lords

5 December 2024

Government must support bureaucracy-cutting Bill proposal to free up thousands of police hours.

An amendment to the Data Protection Act 2018, backed by the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), aimed at allowing unredacted data sharing between the police service and the Crown Prosecution Service at the pre-charge stage has been brought before the House of Lords.

The PFEW 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 tabled before the House of Lords seeks amendment to the Data Protection Act 2018.

As part of its #SimplifyDG6 campaign, PFEW has proposed a new clause that, if enacted, would facilitate the free flow of unredacted data between the police service and the CPS at the pre-charge stage.

Baroness Morgan of Cotes has now formally tabled PFEW’s amendment before the House of Lords, carrying Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd signature of support, to the Data (Use and Access) Bill introduced on 23 October.

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

Police Federation National Detectives’ Forum Chair Ben Hudson said: “I am grateful to Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd and Baroness Morgan of Cotes who are putting their full support behind the proposed draft clause to the Data (Use and Access) Bill that commenced its committee stage in the House of Lords this week.

“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 this week outlined the Government’s plans for change, stressing their 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.

“This draft clause holds the key to releasing hundreds and thousands of policing hours across the country at nil cost to police budgets and the public we protect.

“Adopting this approach enables the Government to prove they are supporting policing by cutting the red tape officers are bound by. Stripping away some bureaucracy will give back officers thousands of hours to bring swifter justice to victims and make our streets safer, which is what the Government wants, the public wants and police officers want.

“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 consumed annually in redacting case files pre-charge.

Victims of crime are also suffering. Almost half of police officers (45 per cent) who responded to our survey in 2022 indicated the number of victims that have withdrawn from active participation with their investigation has increased due to the incredible amount of time it takes to redact case files at the pre-charge stage.

An amendment was first tabled in both Houses of Parliament, as part of the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill but did not complete before Parliament was dissolved on 24 May 2024. A revised amendment is now proposed in the Data (Access and Use) Bill.

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