§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will introduce instructions to all police forces to keep all police records for at least the lifetime of a convicted person; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what (a) guidelines and (b) regulations cover the circumstances in which official police files may be destroyed; and what changes have taken place in these guidelines and regulations during the last 20 years.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThere are no guidelines or regulations covering the retention or destruction of police files. Policy on retention is a matter for each chief officer of police. It is unlikely for practical reasons that any chief officer would base his retention/destruction policy upon the lifetime of offenders. I see no need for the issue of guidance in this area.