Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing reforms to limit the use of police investigations in cases where there is (a) no corroborating evidence and (b) a significant delay in reporting.

The Home Office is unable to comment on or intervene in individual police investigations, so as not to undermine Policing’s operational independence. Where a police force investigates an individual, we expect the force to determine how best to support those involved throughout and after conclusion of the investigation.

The Magistrates Court Act 1980 prescribes that for all summary offences, the information or complaint must be laid within six calendar months of the commission of the alleged offence. Most crimes do not have a time limit for reporting them, which ensures the criminal justice system can appropriately investigate and respond to crimes.

The Criminal Law Act 1967 categorises wasting police time as an offence, this includes making false reports. Perverting the course of justice can also be considered where a person does an act or series of acts which tends to or was intended to pervert the course of justice. It is for the police and CPS to determine when or if these offences have taken place.

This Government’s Safer Streets mission is focused on restoring neighbourhood policing, halving serious violence and rebuilding trust and confidence in policing and the criminal justice system.