Written question asked by Simon Burns (Conservative) on Tuesday, 24 January 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 30 January 2006. It was answered by Fiona Mactaggart (Labour) on Monday, 2 October 2006 on behalf of the Home Office.

Ian Missing

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the conclusion of the review commissioned by Essex Police and Essex Probation Services, on the case of Mr. Ian Missing, that their new enhanced measures of sharing information are in breach of national guidelines; and if he will make the necessary changes to national guidelines to address the situation.

Answer: The guidance on information sharing referred to in the review accompanies the national standards for the probation service in the production of pre-sentence reports. It is for use by the Crown Prosecution Service. While it does not specify any police-held information that should be excluded, it only stipulates what must be included. Providing additional information, such as previous arrests, would not, technically, be in breach of agreed guidelines. As a result of the report the NPD will involve the national Police and the CPS in clarifying the guidance.

Secondary information