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Overseas crimes 'left unrecorded' Overseas crimes 'left unrecorded'
(about 2 hours 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 on the Police National Computer (PNC).Acpo said they should have been entered on the Police National Computer (PNC).
The Home Office said an inquiry had begun and that most serious offenders have now been added to the PNC. Home Secretary John Reid said: "This is a very serious problem and I take it very seriously indeed."
He said: "That's why I've called in the police and the Criminal Records Bureau tomorrow morning for an urgent meeting and I want to establish the facts and satisfy myself that everything has been done to protect the public."
The Home Office said earlier that an inquiry had begun and that most serious offenders have now been added to the PNC.
'Totally unacceptable''Totally unacceptable'
Responsibility for updating the records was transferred from the Home Office to Acpo last year.Responsibility for updating the records was transferred from the Home Office to Acpo last year.
The 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."
    We have moved very quickly to deal with what we acknowledge is a most serious situation Joan RyanHome Office ministerWe have moved very quickly to deal with what we acknowledge is a most serious situation Joan RyanHome Office minister
    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.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.
    The CRB is investigating whether serious offenders in 525 cases have applied for jobs.The CRB is investigating whether serious offenders in 525 cases have applied for jobs.
    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.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''Basics right'
    Shadow home secretary David 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.Shadow home secretary David 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.
    He added: "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."He added: "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.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."He said: "This blunder not only exposes this government's administrative incompetence, it puts the British public at greater risk from these offenders."
    Officials summonedOfficials summoned
    Home Office minister Joan Ryan told BBC News the department was doing its best to deal with the situation.Home Office minister Joan Ryan told BBC News the department was doing its best to deal with the situation.
    She said: "These matters, as far as we know, were unknown to the home secretary or any of the current ministers until some time just after lunchtime today.She said: "These matters, as far as we know, were unknown to the home secretary or any of the current ministers until some time just after lunchtime today.
    "So we have moved very quickly to deal with what we acknowledge is a most serious situation.""So we have moved very quickly to deal with what we acknowledge is a most serious situation."
    The Home Office said a full and immediate inquiry has been launched by the permanent secretary at the department, and Home Secretary John Reid has summoned officials from Acpo so he can make sure the problem is being addressed. The Home Office said a full and immediate inquiry has been launched by the permanent secretary at the department.
    John Denham, chairman of the committee, said the problem was serious but that the Home Office had acted quickly after the situation first came to light early last summer.John Denham, chairman of the committee, said the problem was serious but that the Home Office had acted quickly after the situation first came to light early last summer.