Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance has been given in the last ten years by the College of Policing to police authorities about believing witnesses; whether there have been any proposals to change that guidance in that period; and if so, what.

The College of Policing has not issued guidance to the police in respect of believing witnesses since its formation in 2012.

The College of Policing is currently considering the outcome of a review into the terminology used to guide police when an allegation of crime is made. The review can be found online here: http://www.college.police.uk/News/College-news/Pages/review-into-believing-victims-at-the-time-of-reporting.aspx