Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Frontline Policing: Bureaucracy

Monday 15 September 2025 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Questions on frontline policing bureaucracy addressed concerns over excessive paperwork and red tape.
  • Dr Luke Evans highlighted 14,769 use of force forms filled by the Leicestershire force, with many for compliant individuals.
  • Sam Carling raised a policy in Cambridgeshire requiring senior reviews of stop and search footage, hindering proactive patrols.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Luke Evans Con Hinckley and Bosworth
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The chief constable of Leicestershire reported excessive bureaucracy, including use-of-force forms that take 23 minutes each to complete. This inefficiency costs the force £50,000 annually.

Question

I recently met the chief constable of Leicestershire, and he explained some of the red tape his force faces. Between April 2024 and March 2025, it used 14,769 “use of force” forms. Some 6,500 were for people who were complicit and happy to be handcuffed. Each form takes an average of 23 minutes to fill in. If this could be reduced, it would save the force about £50,000. Will the Minister look at this, and will she meet me to discuss some of the other red tape that we could remove?

Answer from The Minister for Policing and Crime (Sarah Jones)

We need to ensure that the police are doing what we need them to be doing, and that they are out on the streets solving crime and not tied up in red tape. That is absolutely certain. The way to be tough on crime is to be smart on crime, and I am happy to look at the hon. Gentleman’s suggestions.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The minister did not commit to reviewing specific forms or meeting Dr Evans.

How: We Need To Ensure That The Police Are Doing What We Need Them To Be Doing, I Am Happy To Look At The Hon. Gentleman’S Suggestions

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Q2 Sam Carling Lab North West Cambridgeshire
Policing & Resources
Context

A police officer in Cambridgeshire reported a policy requiring all footage from stop and searches to be reviewed by senior officers, discouraging proactive patrols due to the additional workload for supervisors.

Question

I recently met a police officer in Cambridgeshire who told me that their force had a policy requiring all footage from stop and searches to be reviewed by more senior officers. Due to this, they feel discouraged from doing proactive patrols because of extra work added for already stretched supervisors. Will the Policing Minister write to Cambridgeshire’s Conservative police and crime commissioner and urge him to be more proactive on challenging these issues so that our frontline police can spend as much time as possible out in our communities?

Answer from The Minister for Policing and Crime (Sarah Jones)

I am sorry that my hon. Friend’s police and crime commissioner is not doing what is needed. We need to empower the police to be out doing what they do best, not creating barriers for them to do so.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The minister did not commit to writing a letter or taking specific action.

How: I Am Sorry That My Hon. Friend’S Police And Crime Commissioner Is Not Doing What Is Needed

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