Police

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on the police. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

DateDescription
04.03.2013Police service strength
This note summarises the latest available data from the Home Office, Scottish Executive and Police Service of Northern Ireland.
13.02.2013Police numbers: Social Indicators page
Police numbers: Social Indicators page
13.02.2013Police funding: Social Indicators page
Police funding: Social Indicators page. By Gavin Berman and Roderick McInnes. SN/SG/2616.
30.01.2013The retention and disclosure of criminal records
This note sets out the rules in England and Wales governing the retention and disclosure of conviction and non-conviction information held on the Police National Computer and the Police National Database.
12.12.2012Designated public place orders
Under section 13 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, local authorities can designate areas that have experienced alcohol-related disorder or nuisance so that there can be restrictions on public drinking. Such orders are called Designated Public Place Orders (DPPOs). While it is not an offence to consume alcohol within a 'designated' area, the police have powers to control the consumption of alcohol within that place.

Research Papers

DateDescription
03.12.2012Police (Complaints and Conduct) Bill
This Bill is due to go through all its Commons stages under the Fast-Track procedure on 5 December 2012. It would make two changes to the powers of the Independent Police Complaints Commission. These are designed to enable the Commission to investigate allegations against the police in relation to the Hillsborough disaster. The Bill has reportedly been welcomed by the Opposition. It extends to England and Wales, and parts of it extend to the whole UK.
29.11.2012Police and Crime Commissioner Elections, 2012
On Thursday 15 November 2012 the first ever elections for Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) took place in England and Wales, outside of London. The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 replaced police authorities with directly elected PCCs. The 41 police areas each elected one PCC. The supplementary vote system was used for the elections. This Research Paper analyses the results
05.07.2011Police (Detention and Bail) Bill
This Research Paper has been prepared for the Commons stages of the Police (Detention and Bail) Bill, which is being fast-tracked and is due to undergo all of its remaining Commons stages on 7 July 2011. The Bill would reverse the effect of the High Court's recent decision in the Hookway case, in which it held that the 'detention clock' limiting the period that the police can hold a suspect for without charge continued to run when the suspect was released on bail
28.06.2011Protection of Freedoms Bill: Committee Stage Report Bill 189 of 2010-11
This is a report on the House of Commons Committee Stage of the Protection of Freedoms Bill. It complements Research Paper 11/20 prepared for the Commons Second Reading.
24.03.2011Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill Committee Stage Report [Bill 151 of 2010-11]
During the Committee stage, several Government amendments were made to the provisions on police reform. Some (for example, on police complaints, police and crime plans and disqualifying people convicted of imprisonable offences from becoming or being police and crime commissioners) were on matters of substance. By contrast, there were only minor amendments to the provisions of the misuse of drugs and no substantive amendments to the parts of the Bill covering licensing, protests in Parliament Square or universal jurisdiction.

Select Committee Reports

DateDescription
15.12.2011Government response to the fourteenth report from the Home Affairs Select Committee on new landscape
Government response. Home Office; Home Affairs Select Committee report [Commons]
14.06.2011Police use of tasers.
Government response. Home Office report [Commons]
09.06.2011Police finances.
Government response. Home Office report [Commons]
04.05.2011Constitution Select Committee (HL) fourteenth report on Part 1 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility...
Constitution Select Committee (HL) report [Lords]
03.05.2011Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill.
Human Rights Joint Select Committee report [Commons and Lords]

Early Day Motions

DateDescription
24.11.2011POLICE (S.I., 2011, No. 2744)
That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that thePolicing Protocol Order 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 2744), dated 15 November 2011, a copy of which was laid before this ...
21.11.2011DEATH OF DANIEL MORGAN
That this House recognises the urgent need for a full judicial inquiry into the Metropolitan Police Service's handling of the murder of private investigator Daniel Morgan in 1987; notes ...
25.10.2011CLAIMS UNDER THE RIOT (DAMAGES) ACT 1886
<p>That this House notes the Prime Minister's commitment to meet legitimate claims under the Riot (Damages) Act 1886by police authorities in areas where the recent public disorder took ...
25.10.2011SUPERMARKETS AND CLAIMS UNDER THE RIOT (DAMAGES) ACT 1886
That this House notes the different responses of different retailers following the recent public disorder in Manchester; applauds the decision of Sainsbury's to refuse to claim under ...
19.10.2011BLACKPOOL CHRISTIAN CAFE AND LANCASHIRE CONSTABULARY
That this House notes with concern the recent misinterpretation by Lancashire Police officers of public order legislation that resulted in police officers visiting a Christian cafe ...

Lords Library Notes

DateDescription
03.11.2011Protection of Freedoms Bill (HL Bill 99 of 2010-12)
This Library Note provides background information in advance of the Protection of Freedoms Bill's second reading in the House of Lords.
07.04.2011Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill (HL Bill 62 of 2010-11)
This Library Note provides background reading for the second reading debate of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill.
17.01.2008Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill (HL Bill 16, 2007-08). LLN 2008/001
Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill. House of Lords Library Note 2008/001
02.02.2007Serious Crime Bill (HL Bill 27, 2006-07). LLN 2007/001
Serious Crime Bill. House of Lords Library Note 2007/001

Glossary

  • Research Papers (RP) - briefings produced by the House of Commons Library on Bills, topical issues and regular statistics
  • Standard Notes (SN) - shorter, topical briefings from the Commons Library
  • Early Day Motions (EDMs) - formal motions submitted by MPs in the House of Commons
  • POST Notes - short briefing notes produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
  • Lords Library Notes (LLN) - an occasional series of papers compiled by the House of Lords Library