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Overseas crimes 'left on files' Overseas crimes 'left unrecorded'
(40 minutes later)
British criminals who committed serious crimes abroad may have been cleared to work with vulnerable people in the UK, police chiefs have said.British criminals who committed serious crimes abroad may have been cleared to work with vulnerable people in the UK, police chiefs have said.
The Association of Chief Police Officers says details of 27,529 cases, including 25 Britons convicted of rape, were left in files at the Home Office.The Association of Chief Police Officers says details of 27,529 cases, including 25 Britons convicted of rape, were left in files at the Home Office.
Acpo said they should have been entered onto the Police National Computer.Acpo said they should have been entered onto the Police National Computer.
Shadow home secretary David Davis said the situation was "disgraceful" and the Home Office had put the public at risk.Shadow home secretary David Davis said the situation was "disgraceful" and the Home Office had put the public at risk.
Serious offenders 'Totally unacceptable'
Responsibility for updating records has since been transferred to Acpo.Responsibility for updating records has since been transferred to Acpo.
The 27,529 cases involved included: The cases involved included:
  • 25 rapes
  • 3 attempted rapes
  • 29 paedophiles
  • 17 other sex offenders
  • 5 murders
  • 9 attempted murders
  • 13 manslaughter convictions
  • 29 robberies
  • 25 rapes
  • 3 attempted rapes
  • 29 paedophiles
  • 17 other sex offenders
  • 5 murders
  • 9 attempted murders
  • 13 manslaughter convictions
  • 29 robberies
    • Acpo spokesman Paul Kernaghan told the Commons all-party home affairs select committee that the position was "totally unacceptable" in terms of protecting the public.Acpo spokesman Paul Kernaghan told the Commons all-party home affairs select committee that the position was "totally unacceptable" in terms of protecting the public.
    Mr Kernaghan, who is Hampshire's chief constable, said: "Until the Acpo criminal records office was created, someone could go to Germany, commit a sexual offence and serve a sentence - and this would not be known to any police officer when they came back to the UK.Mr Kernaghan, who is Hampshire's chief constable, said: "Until the Acpo criminal records office was created, someone could go to Germany, commit a sexual offence and serve a sentence - and this would not be known to any police officer when they came back to the UK.
    "It would not be known to the courts in the UK if they re-offended. That is a totally unacceptable position professionally and in terms of public protection.""It would not be known to the courts in the UK if they re-offended. That is a totally unacceptable position professionally and in terms of public protection."
    No traceNo trace
    He added: "The information was sitting in desk files and not entered on the [Police National Computer].He added: "The information was sitting in desk files and not entered on the [Police National Computer].
    "That is now being addressed and they are working their way through putting serious offenders on a risk-assessed basis on the PNC.""That is now being addressed and they are working their way through putting serious offenders on a risk-assessed basis on the PNC."
    Acpo said none of the rapists had been subject to the sex offenders register, and that employment checks on the Criminal Records Bureau would have found no trace. Acpo said none of the rapists had been subject to the sex offenders register, and that employment checks on the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) would have found no trace.
    Responsibilities were transferred from the Home Office's UK Central Authority for Mutual Legal Assistance to Acpo's UK Central Authority for the Exchange of Criminal Records on 21 May last year. The CRB is investigating whether serious offenders in more than 500 cases have applied for jobs.
    Bill Hughes, director general of the Serious Organised Crime Agency, said the UK would benefit from sharing European data through the Schengen Information System - although that would mean ending all British border restrictions on European Union travellers.
    Responsibilities were transferred from the Home Office's UK Central Authority for Mutual Legal Assistance to Acpo's UK Central Authority for the Exchange of Criminal Records on 21 May 2006.
    'Basics right'
    Mr Davis said: "Of itself this is disgraceful but it is by no means the first of the government's systems which have had major failures in the past few years - whether it is the Police National Computer, the Criminal Records Bureau or the Sex Offender Register.
    "And this from a government that wants ID cards to be a solution to terrorism, illegal immigration and identity theft.
    "The Home Office has got to learn to walk before it can run, to get the basics right. Any other approach just puts the public at risk."
    Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said he would be tabling an urgent question in Parliament.
    He said: "This blunder not only exposes this government's administrative incompetence, it puts the British public at greater risk from these offenders.
    "Once again, Home Office ineptitude has left the police and the public in the lurch."