This year, for the first time, we have assessed leadership across the force. The assessment has led to a narrative rather than graded judgment, which is summarised below.
Read more about my assessment of North Yorkshire Police’s performance this year, including exceptional events and where I would like to see improvements next year.
I am very pleased with the performance of North Yorkshire Police in keeping people safe and reducing crime.
I was impressed by the way the force works with partners to tackle local problems, and also by the understanding throughout the force of the importance of preventing crime and anti-social behaviour. The force has made significant strides this year to improve the quality of its crime investigations. It works well with others to manage repeat, dangerous and sexual offenders. However, it needs to ensure that it provides a consistent quality service to the most vulnerable people, including victims of domestic abuse.
The force has successfully reduced its spending in such a way that protects local policing and now plans to realign its services with the boundaries of the North Yorkshire County Council and the City of York Council. I am pleased that it is developing its financial planning and management in order to meet the challenges ahead.
I am satisfied that the force has a good understanding of the needs of the people of North Yorkshire and that most officers and staff treat people fairly and with respect.
Description of force area
North Yorkshire Police provides policing services to the county of North Yorkshire. Although there are some areas of deprivation, North Yorkshire is generally affluent. Around 0.8 million people live in a predominantly rural setting. Its distinct urban areas include the coastal towns of Scarborough and Whitby as well as the city of York. The resident population is increased by university students and the very large numbers who visit or travel through the county each year. The transport infrastructure includes major rail stations.
The proportion of areas in North Yorkshire that are predicted to present a very high challenge to the police is higher than the national average. These are characterised by social deprivation or a concentration of commercial premises (including licensed premises), and in some cases both. Providing services across the entirety of the force area is hindered by the size of the force area and the road network.
Exceptional events
May 2015 saw the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire cycle race, which attracted crowds estimated at over 1.5 million across the three days of the event. Together with colleagues in Humberside and South and West Yorkshire, the force undertook a significant policing operation to ensure the safe passage of the race through the county.
Working arrangements
Forensic services are now provided through collaboration with the other forces in the Yorkshire and Humber region. This has resulted in financial savings and improvements in the timeliness and quality of service. The force is currently exploring opportunities with Cleveland Police and Durham Constabulary with regard to the investigation of serious and specialist, complex crimes.
Effectiveness
In our effectiveness inspection, we judged North Yorkshire Police to be good at keeping people safe and reducing crime. Preventing crime and anti-social behaviour is clearly understood throughout the force. It works well with partners to tackle local problems and keep people safe. However, there are some inconsistencies in the way the force protects and supports vulnerable victims. The quality of crime investigation is generally good. The force works well with others to manage repeat, dangerous and sexual offenders. It is good at identifying and disrupting the activity of organised crime groups and it has effective arrangements in place to ensure that it can fulfil its national policing responsibilities. This is the first year HMIC has graded forces on their overall effectiveness so a year-on-year comparison is not possible.
Efficiency
North Yorkshire Police is adequately prepared to face its future financial challenges. It has successfully reduced its spending over the previous spending review period while working hard to protect local policing. For these reasons the force is graded as good. Future saving plans beyond 2017 are being developed and rely on the force adopting a number of different ways of working. The force does not currently have a formal process for the development of staff, though this is being addressed by the force through the development of its people strategy. This will be vital in ensuring its future workforce has opportunities to develop and progress. In last year’s value for money inspection, which considered how forces had met the challenge of the previous spending review period, North Yorkshire was judged to be good.
Legitimacy
North Yorkshire Police is committed to developing and maintaining an ethical culture, and the chief constable has set out his vision and values for the force, together with expected standards of behaviour. North Yorkshire Police has a good understanding of the needs of its local communities and most officers and staff treat people fairly and with respect.
North Yorkshire Police does not comply with the Best Use of Stop and Search scheme. The force needs to do more to ensure that its officers understand fully the grounds for stops and searches, record them accurately and are properly supervised. Taser use is fair and appropriate.
This is the first time HMIC has graded forces on their legitimacy, so no year-on-year comparison is possible.
Leadership
North Yorkshire Police has communicated realistic future plans and priorities; however, the force needs to do more to understand how this links with the skills and capabilities that it will require from its workforce in the future.
The approach to leadership in North Yorkshire Police has resulted in a strong focus on the priorities of keeping people safe and reducing crime through its ‘people first’ objective. Through this initiative, the force aspires to value, manage and develop its people and promote a culture of trust and innovation to improve its services to the community. To keep senior leaders informed on important issues about future plans and priorities and any changes to the organisation, the force organises leadership days for police staff and officers. The approach to leadership is encouraging, although more work is needed to ensure messages are understood and embedded throughout the organisation.
Insights from other inspections
HMIC undertakes other inspections in addition to the PEEL programme. Since the last PEEL assessment there have been six reports published on inspections that included North Yorkshire Police. More detail on some of these inspections can be found under the Other inspections section.
Looking ahead to PEEL 2016
In the year ahead, I will be interested to see how the force responds to this assessment, and the areas for improvement that HMIC has identified in the last year.
I will be particularly interested to see:
- improvements in how the force deals with vulnerable victims, particularly those who are victims of domestic abuse;
- improvements in the understanding and use of stop and search; and
- how restructuring the force to align its services with the boundaries of the North Yorkshire County Council and the City of York Council will improve the service provided to the public.
In May 2016, like the majority of forces in England and Wales, the force will see the second elections for its police and crime commissioner.
