Safeguarding Vulnerable People: Inspection of the National Crime Agency

Thursday 23rd June 2022 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Priti Patel)]

The National Crime Agency (NCA) leads the fight against serious and organised crime. It has the power to task other law enforcement partners and a capability, with local to international reach, to disrupt the impact of serious and organised crime on the UK.

This is the tenth HMICFRS inspection of the NCA and examines the effectiveness of the agency’s existing safeguarding policies, structures and processes, the training provided and the safeguarding leadership and culture within the agency.

I have asked HMICFRS to publish the report; it will be published today and will be available online at: www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk. I will arrange for a copy to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

The inspection found that the NCA has policies for both child and adult safeguarding and that officer guidance is comprehensive and easily accessible, though the understanding of these varies by directorate. The inspectors were encouraged by the work of the child protection and safeguarding team, particularly its child protection advisers, finding that those who used their services valued their work. However, inspectors found that the primacy of the investigations directorate in delivering safeguarding had led some officers to view it solely as the duty of investigators or other specialists, with a small team relied upon to take forward this work. The Inspectorate has recommended that the NCA should develop a safeguarding plan by no later than 30 September 2022, to make clear how it intends to put safeguarding at the heart of its work.

[HCWS132]