Bichard ‘concern’ over Soham inquiry implementation
The senior civil servant who conducted the inquiry into the factors leading up to the Soham murders has expressed concern over the implementation of his recommendations.
Sir Michael Bichard reported good progress on most areas following his inquiry into the handling of information on Soham murderer Ian Huntley, but he raised continued concern over police use of the national computer system.
He warned that it sometimes took as long as ten days to put information on to the computer system and said it was “disappointing” that more had not been achieved.
He also called for the national IT intelligence system to be delivered without delay, and expressed concern over the implementation of a register of people cleared to work with children.
But he reported that 30 of the 31 recommendations he made have either been implemented or were in the process of being implemented.
“I think the fact that all those involved knew that there would be a public review has concentrated minds and enables me today to say that good progress has been made,” he said.
“Even so in respect of the most important recommendations – the National IT system and a registration or barring scheme for those working with children, a very great deal remains to be done before we can claim success.”
Ian Huntley murdered Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in August 2002, having worked as a caretaker at their nearby school in Soham, Cambridgeshire.
Sir Michael’s inquiry, published last year, was critical of the information sharing between police forces and government agencies after it emerged that Humberside police and social workers in Lincolnshire had recorded a number of allegations against Huntley that were not passed on to police in Cambridgeshire.
Today, Sir Michael said the delivery of the police national IT intelligence system was “by no means guaranteed without a detailed business case”. He noted the absence of detailed specifications for the project.
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten said Sir Michael was right to be concerned.
“Unless there is urgent progress made on this issue, the new intelligence system is at risk of becoming yet another Government IT project which is delivered late and over budget,” he said.
Sir Michael also highlighted the need for more progress on the registration scheme, which should be delivered by 2007.
He said: “The resources for this have not yet been allocated; the legislation will need to be taken through Parliament and the scheme will need to ensure that it is easily accessed by those employing workers including parents recruiting, for example, an out of school tutor.”
And he urged the Government to engage in discussions with other countries about the recruitment and vetting of overseas workers.
Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said that the pace of implementation was disappointing.
Mr Davis said: “It is of the utmost importance that these recommendations are implemented as soon as possible and it is disappointing to see that yet again the Government has failed on its promises.
“It is not surprising given the Home Office’s record with large IT projects under Labour. The vital plans to set up a national IT intelligence system and a barring scheme are already behind schedule. Unfortunately it is typical of Labour’s failure with projects like these in the last eight years.”
