British national intelligence system to share information on individuals who pose a risk to the public

The British government will introduce a national intelligence system to share information on individuals who pose a risk to the public, Home Secretary David Blunkett has announced.

Responding to Sir Michael Bichard's report into the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, Mr Blunkett said the government would act on the main recommendations immediately. He said the report uncovers serious failures in recording and managing information.

Sir Michael's specific recommendations are:

• The introduction of a national intelligence system. Where information has been collected which points to someone posing a threat, this information should be shared and acted upon before that person is employed in a sensitive post;
• Those recruiting staff in schools must be properly trained in safeguarding children;
• Stronger, more consistent vetting and the introduction of a new system for registering those working with children and vulnerable adults; and
• The social services database should hold details of all alleged sexual offenders involved with named children and needs to be easily searchable.

He said that it should not be forgotten that Huntley alone was responsible for the murders, as stated in the report.

"None of the actions or failures of any of the witnesses or the institutions they represented led to the deaths of the girls."

Mr Blunkett added that it would be difficult to disagree with Sir Michael's view that the final responsibility for the "serious failures" in the senior management of Humberside Police rests with Chief Constable David Westwood.

"The strength of the report's criticism of him has led me to conclude that, using the powers available to me under the Police Act 1996, as amended by the Police Reform Act 2002, I should require Humberside Police Authority to suspend Mr Westwood as Chief Constable forthwith."

The Police Authority has been asked to consider what steps they should take in light of the report's findings. They are due to report to the Home Secretary by 6 July.