PROTECTING vulnerable people in Warwickshire is a police priority.
So says Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Ron Ball in the wake of being told the force needs to up its game following the publication of the HMIC Peel Effectiveness Report on Vulnerability.
Mr Ball said: “Despite the force being graded as ‘requiring improvement’, it would be misleading to think Warwickshire Police does not place a strong emphasis on protecting vulnerable people from harm.
“It is a fundamental part of everything the force does and the inspectors found that Warwickshire Police is ‘generally good at identifying vulnerable victims, and works well with partner organisations to respond to their needs appropriately’.”
The report did find crimes against vulnerable people in Warwickshire were well investigated and supervised, but Mr Ball recognised there was room for improvement.
He added: “The report found some specific areas in which the force could do things differently to improve further the protection provided to vulnerable people and these are being addressed.
“Concerns were raised in particular about the way in which the force assesses the risks to children and young people who go missing, particularly those who go missing from care homes.
“Warwickshire Police already has processes in place to ensure that they focus time and resources on vulnerable people, including children in care, while at the same time ensuring partners and care homes also play their appropriate part in safeguarding children from harm.
“HMIC clearly takes a different view on these procedures and the force will look at the recommendations to see what improvements it and partner organisations can make.”
Mr Ball said there was already much work being done to improve other areas where vulnerable people were at risk.
He added: “Child sexual exploitation – something missing children are particularly vulnerable to – is one such area, and the opening of the Warwickshire Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub in May will represent a massive step forward in ensuring all partners are working together to address this issue and keep the most vulnerable in society safe.
“There is also considerable investment being made in the force’s protective services and IT capabilities to ensure officers and staff are well-supported in managing the risks to vulnerable people.
“Overall, I remain confident that Warwickshire Police places a significant focus on protecting vulnerable people from harm.”
