Crime and intelligence - Wanted persons and warrants policy (N04)

1. Security protective marking

1.1. Not protectively marked.

2. Summary of changes

2.1. This policy has been reviewed in December 2025 – minor amendments made to terminology around risk assessments have been made.

3. What this policy is about

3.1. This policy provides mandatory direction to operational police officers and staff on the management of:

• outstanding suspects and persons who are circulated as wanted upon the police national computer for involvement in a criminal offence pre-charge
• warrants received from Kent courts and other approved enforcement agencies, in relation to their administration and execution both pre/post charge
• recalls to prison as directed from Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS)

4. Statement of policy

4.1. This policy is designed to ensure an effective and corporate consistent approach to the management of wanted persons, prison recalls and warrants. The purpose is to minimise the risk of harm to the public and the organisation, to maximise the detection of recorded crime within Kent Police, to reduce crime across the county to improve responsiveness and public satisfaction recorded by victims of crime and to ensure a suitable audit trail is maintained.

4.2. All wanted persons, warrants and those wanted for any other reason will be risk assessed as per policy N26a. This will standardise the risk assessment process across the organisation. It will identify a risk level on a high, medium or standard basis.

5. Equality Impact Assessment (EIA)

5.1. An EIA has been carried out and shows the proposals in this policy would have no potential or actual differential impact on grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, transgender, disability, age, religion or belief or sexual orientation.

6. Consultation

6.1. Consultation has taken place with the Inspectorate, divisional SLT's and both Criminal Justice and Tactical Operations commands.

7. Monitoring and review

7.1. Monitoring and review of this policy will be conducted by the Criminal Justice Command and the Wanted Persons' Bureau manager in response to changes to legislation and national guidance. Also in consideration of business process changes within the organisation. This policy is next due for review in December 2027.

8. Security

8.1. Kent Police have measures in place to protect the security of your data in accordance with our Information Management policy.

9. Retention and disposal of records

9.1. Kent Police will hold data in accordance with our Records Review, Retention and Disposal policy.

10. Related force policies

• N06 - Police National Computer
• S03f - Persons unlawfully at large from prisons
• N13 - Managing violent and sexual offenders

11. Linked documents

• Warrants cross border protocol