Derbyshire PEEL 2014

Derbyshire Constabulary has a victim-centred approach with a strong focus on ensuring that the most vulnerable victims receive a joined-up service from all agencies. HMIC found good evidence of front-line staff working with partners to find ways to divert offenders and prevent crime.

There has been a 21 percent reduction in crime in Derbyshire over the last four years, which is a greater reduction than the figure for England and Wales. The force works well with partners across Derbyshire in using a range of tactics to prevent crime and reduce reoffending.

HMIC found that the force’s ability to measure the impact of its activities is limited. The force has recognised this and is starting to develop better ways to evaluate activities.

Derbyshire has an effective strategic threat and risk assessment process that helps to meet the needs of the community by prioritising resource where it is needed most. This is national good practice.

There is a strong focus on providing a good service to victims in Derbyshire, particularly on identifying the most vulnerable and ensuring the risks to them are properly understood and addressed by both police and partners.

HMIC found some excellent work going on to scrutinise investigations, to understand the reasons why some fail to result in convictions and to improve the quality and outcomes of future investigations. However, the force needs to do more to learn from what works in crime fighting and crime prevention tactics.

The force is working well in identifying and tackling the most prolific offenders through a joined-up approach with partners, working with those causing the greatest risk to the public to prevent them from reoffending.

Derbyshire Constabulary shows a strong commitment to neighbourhood policing and the safer neighbourhood teams have a good understanding of local concerns and priorities.

Neighbourhood officers work well with local people in tackling anti-social behaviour and are committed to ensuring the most vulnerable people in their communities are protected.

Partnership working in tackling anti-social behaviour is strong and constructive. The police work well with local authority partners in understanding local anti-social behaviour concerns and finding creative solutions.

HMIC found that the force needs to do more to understand what works in tackling anti-social behaviour locally, and to share this widely so that all can learn from good practice.

The domestic abuse inspection found that there was some effective working by Derbyshire Constabulary to tackle domestic abuse, but there were areas that required further development. The inspection found that there were some inconsistent practices across the force and gaps in the service being provided to some victims. High-risk victims (those at risk of serious harm or murder) did not always receive the multi-agency support that ought to be provided.

The crime inspection found evidence that Derbyshire had made progress to improve its response to domestic abuse. The force had responded to HMIC inspection findings, e.g., by stopping the issuing of warning letters for harassment. All domestic abuse cases are reviewed at daily management meetings, and repeat offenders are referred to a multi-agency risk assessment conference (MARAC). Perpetrators of domestic abuse are also included in the group of offenders under the force’s integrated offender management programme. The inspection also reviewed Derbyshire’s domestic abuse action plan and found the action plan submitted followed the national action plan template outlining a broad range of activity which was in line with the agreed national priorities for forces to improve their response to domestic abuse and made direct reference to the HMIC recommendations.

The crime inspection found that there is a rigorous approach to identifying and closely monitoring activity and using intelligence to disrupt their criminal activities. This involves both teams of specialist detectives and neighbourhood teams.

There was no Strategic Policing Requirement inspection for this force.