Written question asked by Claire Curtis-Thomas (Labour) on Monday, 1 September 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 September 2003. It was answered by Hazel Blears (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 September 2003 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps the Government has taken to (a) simplify police procedures, (b) reduce procedural and administrative burdens on the police, (c) save police resources and (d) speed up the process of justice.

Answer: Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps the Government has taken to (a) simplify police procedures, (b) reduce procedural and administrative burdens on the police, (c) save police resources and (d) speed up the process of justice. [128621] Ms Blears: The report of the Joint Home Office/ CabinetOffice Review of the Police and Criminal Evidence (PACE) Act 1984 set the above criteria as the basis for identifying potential changes to PACE. The Government's current legislative programme takes forward the findings of the review in areas such as provision for extending the powers of stop and search; the execution of warrants; street bail; review of police detention; limits on periods of detention without charge; property of detained persons; taking fingerprints before charge; and the process of revising or introducing PACE Codes of Practice. The remaining findings are being taken forward administratively or through future legislative opportunities.

Secondary information