To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps her Department has taken to modernise the (a) powers and (b) practices of police forces. (258854)

[holding answer 2 March 2009]: The Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984 and the accompanying PACE codes of practice are subject to ongoing review.

A formal public consultation on PACE and modernising police powers was carried out in March 2007 and August 2008. The PACE review website provides full details of the consultation process.

http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/operational-policing/powers-pace-codes/PACE-Review/