'More to be done' by Cambridgeshire Constabulary to improve crime recording accuracy
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has today published an assessment on the accuracy of crime recording in Cambridgeshire Constabulary, which found that the force records around 88 percent of crimes reported to it.
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Cambridgeshire Constabulary: Crime Data Integrity inspection 2017
HMIC previously inspected the accuracy of crime recording in Cambridgeshire Constabulary in 2014.
To assess the extent that recorded crime information in Cambridgeshire Constabulary can be trusted, HMIC asked:
- How effective is the force at recording reported crime?
- How efficiently do the systems and processes in the force support accurate crime-recording?
- How well does the force demonstrate the leadership and culture necessary to meet the national standards for crime-recording?
Based on these criteria, overall HMIC has judged Cambridgeshire Constabulary as ‘requires improvement’.
HM Inspector of Constabulary Zoë Billingham said:
“Cambridgeshire Constabulary has made a concerted effort to improve the accuracy of its crime recording since HMIC’s inspection in 2014. It has introduced a new crime recording process and victim hub which improves the service to victims across the county and it has implemented all our previous recommendations.
“The force is on a journey and it still has some more to do. At the time of our inspection it was accurately recording about 88% of all crime reported to it – which means that more than 1 in 10 crimes were not making it onto the books. The force recognises the importance of continuing to improve. Given the focus and commitment displayed by the force leadership, police officers and staff, I am confident that further improvements will follow.
“I am encouraged that the force is good at understanding the needs of vulnerable victims and in recording crimes committed against them.
“The force took immediate action to address the issues that we identified in this inspection which are designed to ensure the accuracy of its crime recording continues to improve. This is vital if all victims of crime are to receive a high quality service from the police.
“Cambridgeshire Constabulary, as with other forces, may be subject to a further unannounced inspection at any time.”
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Cambridgeshire Constabulary: Crime Data Integrity inspection 2017
Notes to editors
- HMIC is an independent inspectorate, inspecting policing to promote improvements in policing that make everyone safer, and assesses and reports on the efficiency and effectiveness of police forces to tackle crime and terrorism, improve criminal justice and raise confidence. HMIC inspects all 43 police forces in England and Wales together with other major policing and law enforcement bodies.
- HMIC are unable to make direct comparisons with the 2014 inspection due to a change in the methodology used. In particular, the 2014 inspection was a dip-sample of records in each force which contributed to a statistically robust rate for crime-recording accuracy for England and Wales, whereas this inspection is working to a statistically robust standard within each force.
- Further information on how Cambridgeshire Constabulary is performing can be found on HMIC’s online assessment tool.
- For further information, HMIC’s press office can be contacted during office hours from 8:30am – 5:00pm Monday – Friday on 0203 513 0600.
- HMIC’s out-of-hours press office line for urgent media enquiries is 07836 217 729.
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