Historic Cases - Retention and Reopening

Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FOI/25/008628/D

Version Date: 26/08/2025

The Information Management Department have provided the following information.

may you please tell me how long investigation files are kept by yourselves please?
My grandfather died in 1980 in suspicious circumstances. When I requested the file I was told one did not exist however I was wondering why this perhaps may be?
Devon & Cornwall Police retain police information in in line with relevant legislation set out in the Authorised Professional Practice (APP) and the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) retention scheme, and in accordance with the Management of Police Information (MoPI). All decisions related to the review, retention and disposal of operational records must be made in line with MoPI.
However, before MoPI came into effect in 2005, forces generally operated under local record management policies and practices, which varied over time. In the 1980s, many investigation files were stored in paper format and were subject to shorter retention rules than those applied today. Files would often be destroyed once the case was closed, any proceedings were complete, and no further policing purpose remained.
For an incident occurring in the early 1980s, even for the most serious offences, the file may have reached the end of its retention period and been lawfully destroyed. Even for serious offences, if the case was closed and there was no ongoing policing purpose, earlier local policy may have permitted disposal before the national standards were introduced. In the 1980’s, Devon and Cornwall Police local retention schedule for undetected murder, attempted murder and manslaughter was to retain for 10 years and then subject to review by a divisional commander.