'We recognise there is more to do': West Yorkshire Police told to improve at investigating crime and safeguarding
The force has ‘acted at pace’ since concerns were raised in the report
West Yorkshire Police has been told that it must improve how it investigates crime and safeguards vulnerable victims following an inspection.
Today (Wednesday) His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) published its findings from a recent inspection into parts of West Yorkshire Police.
The PEEL (Police Effectiveness, Efficiency and Legitimacy) report rated the force as “requires improvement” in five areas; investigating crime, managing fraud, safeguarding children and adults, leadership and force management, and developing a diverse and inclusive workforce.
It was rated “adequate” in three areas; preventing and deterring crime, responding to the public, and using police powers fairly. It did not receive ratings of “outstanding”, “good” or “inadequate” in any category.
West Yorkshire Police’s chief constable said the force “remains committed to delivering” a consistent and high-quality service and recognises “there is more to do”.
In her summary of the findings, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Michelle Skeer OBE QPM, said that the force had made improvements since the last inspection, including in its use of police powers, performance data and personal development review processes. She also praised the financial management of the force.
She writes: “However, I have concerns about how it is managing demand, investigating crime, and safeguarding children and adults at risk of harm. We found that some governance meetings weren’t taking place or were ineffective. We also found some examples of poor leadership.”
Ms Skeer said that feedback was given during the inspection and “acted on at pace”, adding that she felt “confident that the current force leadership will continue in this positive direction”.
‘High workloads’
She said that “some investigation teams are facing high workloads”, which is affecting some peoples’ well-being, and said it was “disappointing” to discover that trainee investigators are not always provided with effective support.
On the matter of stop and search, Ms Skeer said that West Yorkshire Police has effective oversight of use and that it has further improved how it records the grounds for using these powers.
Neighbourhood policing teams in West Yorkshire are well-resourced, she found, but were re-directed to other policing areas during the summer, which “affected their ability to provide a visible presence and carry out work in their communities”.
The force has a high rate of answering emergency calls and is “achieving better outcomes for victims of crime”, she said. But, she added: “The force needs to improve further. During our inspection, we found many officers had high workloads and were struggling to cope with the demand.
“The force should make sure that officers have the right skills and experience to investigate crimes they are allocated. It also needs to make sure that supervisors effectively oversee investigations and that all investigative opportunities are progressed. This will help to make sure victims get the service they deserve.”
‘Disappointing’
She said it was “disappointing” to see the lack of progress in safeguarding matters that were identified for improvement at the last inspection.
Ms Skeer said that the force “should make sure that it has the capability and capacity to manage fraud demand” and review its policy and processes for when people are reported missing.
She concludes: “I am optimistic that the leadership team, together with its committed officers and staff, will continue to make progress on the areas for improvement identified during this inspection. I will continue to monitor this progress.”
The PEEL inspections were introduced in 2014 and West Yorkshire Police. To read the full report click here.
Chief Constable Sir John Robins QPM DL said: “We welcome the findings of HMICFRS’s recent inspection and remain committed to delivering the consistent, high-quality service that the public expects and deserves.
“This inspection acknowledges the improvements West Yorkshire Police has made since the last HMICFRS PEEL (Police Effectiveness, Efficiency and Legitimacy) report.
“Crime is down by 9% and the prosecution of offenders has increased by 25%. We are answering 999 and 101 calls faster than ever and we are working tirelessly to improve our attendance times to incidents. The satisfaction rate for victims of crime is now at 72%.
“HMICFRS rightly highlights the areas where the force should improve, and acknowledges that the signs of improvement are already underway. The inspection also recognises the significant progress we have made since their last visit and, most importantly, the overall performance continuing to strengthen.
“We recognise there is more to do. We are working hard to bolster our investigations and to deliver a consistent high-quality service to everyone who needs us.”