WARWICKSHIRE Police ‘won’t be able to effectively reduce crime’ until improvements are made, says a new report.
A Police Effectiveness, Efficiency and Legitimacy (PEEL) report published today (Friday October 14) says the force must have ‘the right people with the right skills in the right place’, and improve its capacity, capability and effectiveness in investigations, vulnerability and neighbourhoods.
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) rated Warwickshire Police as ‘requiring improvement’ – the second-to-last of five grades – at investigating crime, responding to the public, and managing offenders.
It received an ‘adequate’ score in preventing crime, treatment of the public, protecting vulnerable people, developing a positive workplace, and making good use of resources.
No areas scored the highest two grades of ‘outstanding’ or ‘good’ – or the bottom grade of ‘inadequate’.
The report said too many of the force’s serious investigations were not effective enough, and its specialised investigation teams could not cope with demand.
It criticised the force for using neighbourhood officers to support response policing teams earlier this year, preventing them from working on problems in their communities – although they have now returned to their areas.
HMICFRS said the force’s ability to reduce crime was being harmed by factors including not identifying vulnerable or repeat victims, poorly-supervised crime investigations, not always considering victims’ needs, and an inability to attend incidents promptly to secure evidence.
The force was praised for the way it interacts with and analyses harm in its communities, and working well in partnership with other organisations to reduce harm.
HM Inspector of Constabulary Wendy Williams said she was pleased the force was addressing the right areas of policing to reduce crime.
But she added: “Until the force has the right people with the right skills in the right place and improves its capacity, capability and effectiveness in the areas of investigations, vulnerability and neighbourhoods, it won’t be able to effectively reduce crime.
“Warwickshire Police is missing opportunities to safeguard vulnerable people. It needs to improve how it assesses calls from the public, so that vulnerable people and repeat callers are routinely identified.
“Staff were being moved from critical areas of work to manage demand, and some teams were under-resourced and without the specialist skills needed to perform their role.
“The force needs to make sure there is sufficient capacity, capability and supervisory oversight in teams that manage offenders and outstanding suspects, especially those who pose the highest risk of harm to the public.
“The strategic plans the force has put, and is putting, in place give cause for optimism. But the plans must be carefully reviewed. We look forward to seeing the progress of the force’s plans.”
Warwickshire Police Chief Constable Debbie Tedds said: “We are pleased that HMICFRS are optimistic about our direction of travel.
“Organisational changes will ensure by Spring 2023 that we have the right people in the right place with the right skills.
“New investigation teams will mean we can improve investigation of crimes that negatively impact people’s lives. We should also be in a positive position to investigate specialised incidents.
“Investment in protective services, prevention resources and provision for domestic abuse, rape, serious sexual offences, child exploitation and abuse, trafficking and exploitation will enable us to more effectively prevent crime and safeguard vulnerable people.
“We are in an extremely strong position for the future to further improve how we prevent and reduce crime and protect people from harm.”
Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe said: “These inspection findings do not come as a surprise. The force has detailed programmes both planned and already under way to improve its overall performance.
“I will be going through the inspection report carefully with the force in the weeks and months to come to make sure that the improvements required are being delivered.
“The ingredients for future success are clearly there and while change is never easy, I know that everyone at Warwickshire Police remains deeply committed to further improving the service delivered to the public.
“Achieving this must be the number one priority and remains absolutely fundamental to increasing confidence in policing.”
