Police Reform
Policing and Crime Bill
The Policing and Crime Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 18 December 2008. It brings together a variety of policy issues on policing and crime, including protecting vulnerable people, improving the effectiveness and accountability of police, stopping crime in our communities, and making airports safer.
Latest News
Following agreement by both Houses, the Policing and Crime Bill received Royal Assent on 12 November 2009. The bill is now an Act of Parliament (law).
Read a press notice on the passing of the bill (new window).
Background
In May 2008, the government announced its intention to introduce a Policing and Crime Reduction Bill in its draft legislative programme. It was introduced by the Home Secretary in the House of Commons as the Policing and Crime Bill on 18 December 2008.
The Bill will help:
- increase the effectiveness and public accountability of policing
- protect particularly vulnerable members of our society
- prevent serious and low-level crime and disorder in our communities
- reduce crime by improving the recovery of criminal assets and international judicial cooperation
- enhance security planning at UK airports.
The Bill covers five key areas: policing, protecting vulnerable people, serious and low-level crime and disorder, airport security, and organised and international crime.
Main elements affecting policing
The Bill will implement a number of key priorities on policing and operational effectiveness, including suggestions from the government’s Policing Green Paper, through measures designed to:
- ensure police authorities listen to the views of the public on policing in their area
- strengthen the independence and status of the senior appointments panel for chief officers
- ensure that HM Inspectorate of Constabulary assesses how well authorities are reflecting the views of the public when they inspect an authority’s functions
- make sure police forces at the regional and national level are working together by improving operational processes and clarifying the framework for collaboration agreements
Further information
Information about the crime reduction aspects of the Bill can be found on the Crime Reduction website (new window).
You can also read the impact assessments and equality impact assessments (new window) on the main Home Office website.
Other documents relating to the Bill, including the government response to the Joint Committee on Human Rights and letters from Lord West are available on the legislative scrutiny: Policing and Crime Bill page.
