Bichard “concerned” at slow progress on national intelligence system

The Bichard report’s most important recommendation has not
yet been implemented, Sir Michael Bichard has warned.

The Bichard inquiry following Ian Huntley’s conviction for
murdering Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman called for a national
electronic police intelligence system, and new legislation to make
it easier to stop people who should not work with children from
doing so.

Sir Michael said the government had made much good progress in
implementing his inquiry’s recommendations, including better
training for teachers involved in interviewing and selecting school
staff, and a confirmation that all offences against children should
be reported to the police.

But he was concerned about the delay in establishing a central
intelligence system, and disappointed that police were still
failing to enter records on the police national computer.

He said, “We are on the verge of having in the United
Kingdom a coherent set of  protective measures unrivalled anywhere,
but if the national intelligence system and the barring scheme
(registration scheme) are not in place by 2007, we shall have
fallen short. “