Merseyside PEEL 2016

Merseyside Police is good at preventing crime and anti-social behaviour. It has a structured approach to identifying threats to its local communities. It has a good understanding of the threats and risks which pose the greatest harm to local communities. While the force recognises the limitations of the formal engagement structure, neighbourhood teams connect in effective ways with local communities both in their own environment and through representatives. However, the force could do more to involve local people in the setting of local priorities.

The force has an effective problem solving model and good governance of its mechanisms for preventing crime and anti-social behaviour, although consistency of application could be improved. The force engages well with partners in problem solving and makes good use of the powers and legislation available. It is effective in its use of preventative marketing campaigns, informed by the views of victims. Merseyside Police is supported effectively to prevent people engaging in crime through a range of small-scale projects run by local communities, volunteers and charities. The force has progressed well in its understanding of and research relating to evidence-based policing. It is using this to improvement how it keeps the public safe from harm.

Merseyside Police is good at investigating crime and supporting victims. It provides an initial investigative response in its assessment of calls from the public. A thorough assessment is completed, and in most cases immediate advice on the preservation of evidence and crime prevention is provided.

Officers are effective in their initial investigation of crime most of the time, although we found that some early investigative opportunities are being missed. While we found that the promptness and consistency in the allocation of crimes to investigators has improved, and the force makes good use of specialist officers to conduct complex and serious investigations, some officers continue to investigate complex cases without the correct level of training or experience. We identified this as an area for improvement last year; in response, the force has developed a new investigation allocation process as part of its new operating model. We also found that there are still delays in the examination of digital devices.

Merseyside Police continues to work well with partner organisations in its approach to prevent re-offending. It actively seeks and arrests those persons who are wanted or outstanding suspects in a timely way, and works with partners to manage the most dangerous offenders.

In HMIC’s 2015 effectiveness report, we found that the force responded well to vulnerable victims. In 2016, the force continues to provide the same level of support through consistent completion of risk assessments of vulnerable victims and appropriate safeguarding. Officers and staff understand how to identify vulnerable victims, doing so correctly and consistently. They have access to a full range of information to inform their initial assessment. The force has an effective victim care model, the ‘Merseyside Model for Victim Care’, which provides officers with guidance and a range of support agencies to which they can refer victims.

Merseyside Police is generally good at investigating crimes that involve vulnerable people. The force has effective arrangements in place with partners through multi-agency safeguarding hubs, with additional provision for the safeguarding for victims of domestic abuse, harmful practices, and missing and absent children. The force works well with partners, including educational establishments, and neighbourhood teams support the ongoing safeguarding of victims in their area. The force works well in the provision of ‘best evidence’, including that from vulnerable children in crown court cases, to support effective investigations and outcomes.

Merseyside Police continues to be outstanding in the way it tackles serious and organised crime.

The force has a comprehensive understanding of the risk and threat posed by serious and organised crime, with the level of threat assessed daily. This means that the public can be assured that the threats and risks associated with serious and organised crime in Merseyside are identified in a timely way to allow the force to respond appropriately.

Merseyside Police has a strong approach to tackling serious and organised crime which means the threat of organised crime to local communities is being managed effectively. It manages organised crime groups well through its ‘whole force’ approach and in collaboration with local partners. The force is proactive in the way it prevents serious and organised crime. It continues to engage well with those people at risk of being drawn into serious and organised crime or at risk of becoming victims of organised crime. It does this through creative and innovative communication with the public, and a range of specific support programmes, to which those at risk can be referred. It excels in the successful use of gang injunctions to prevent re-offending, and works well to prevent offenders re-offending while in prison.

Merseyside Police has effective arrangements in place to ensure that it can fulfil its national policing responsibilities. It regularly tests its ability to respond to national threats with partners including public order, civil emergencies, counter terrorism and unannounced tests of its ability to mobilise. The force has reviewed its response to each of the Strategic Policing Requirement (PDF document) threats in line with national standards and best practice.

Merseyside Police is part of a North West collaboration of six neighbouring forces with regional governance in place for firearms. The forces have assessed the level of firearms threat across Merseyside and the other five force areas. The threat is reviewed regularly through governance meetings with a formal review every six months in line with national guidance, and has been reassessed in light of recent terrorist incidents. The force has thoroughly tested its preparedness against the firearms threat through firearms exercises and a three day marauding terrorist firearms exercise with partners. Merseyside Police is not part of the national armed policing uplift programme but has reviewed and maintained firearms officer numbers and responded to a foreseeable loss of skills.