MP Calls For Greater Openness Regarding Police Information Notices

Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart has written to Humberside Police Chief Constable Justine Curran and Police Minister Mike Penning regarding the use of Police Information Notices (PINs).

A PIN can be issued by the police in cases where there are allegations of harassment. The decision about whether to issue a PIN is an operational matter for the police. There is no formal police procedure that must be followed, and no limit on the period for which they have effect. They are not formal police cautions, and signing one does not imply that the alleged harassment has taken place.

However, the police may use them in future legal proceedings.

Graham has asked Chief Constable Curran what training Humberside Police Officers receive on the issue of PINs, and what responsibility officers have to seek out the other side of a story before using them.

He has also asked the Chief Constable if she will consider publishing the number of PINs issued by the Force each month.

Graham has also written to Mike Penning to ask if he will consider requiring each Police Force to publish the number of PINs issued by their officers on a monthly basis, and for the Home Office to collate and publish annual data about the number issued by each Force.

Graham said;

“It’s important we understand precisely how PINs are being deployed by Humberside Police, including officer training, recipients’ right to a fair reply and how many are being issued locally compared to other areas of the country.”

“I hope the Chief Constable will provide the information I have requested to the public and that Home Office Ministers will do their bit by providing the national context. By doing so they will enhance public trust that police powers are being used responsibly.”

His comments follow those of Keith Vaz MP, the Labour Chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Committee, who warned in 2015:

“Tens of thousands of PINs are issued by the police every year. Although a useful tool for stopping harassment, meeting the needs of the victim and addressing problematic behaviour, there is a clear danger that they may be used inappropriately if they are not done in conjunction with good risk assessment and sufficient investigation.”

“Police forces should provide further training to officers on the use of PINs. It is also vital that intended recipients of a PIN are given the opportunity to give their account of the situation before a police decision is made.”

“The failure to share information on PINs between police forces strongly undermines Chief Constables’ ability to assess their force’s usage.”