Humberside Police committed to improving child protection, but progress slow in some areas
Humberside Police has made some improvements in how it safeguards vulnerable children, but has been slow to implement recommendations in other areas, according to a post-inspection review published today by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).
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Humberside Police – National child protection inspection post-inspection review
The review acknowledges that the introduction of a new database system is partly responsible for the slow progress in improving outcomes for children. Officers and staff have taken time to adapt to the new system, although there have been clear improvements in the way that systems are searched by control room teams.
HM Inspector of Constabulary Matt Parr said:
“Humberside Police recognises the need for improvements in how it protects children and appreciates the scale of the task ahead of them. I am encouraged by individual cases that show how the force, working along other agencies, can protect those children in most need of help. There is still work to do, however. Progress in some areas has been slow, due in part to the force changing its database last summer, and the problems it has encountered while officers and staff get used to a different way of recording and searching systems.
“The force still needs to be more consistent in providing the best outcomes for children. Only 26 percent of the cases we looked at were carried out to a good standard, with the rest graded as either requiring improvement or inadequate. This is a slight improvement on last year, but I am concerned with the pace of progress.
“Our inspection found that there is a real appetite for change in Humberside Police, but good intentions need to be backed up with decisive and timely action. We will be closely monitoring how the force responds to the recommendations from today’s report, and expect to see progress made.”
The report sets out that the force has made improvements in:
- the way the force approaches its management of sex offenders;
- its assessment of risk and early referral;
- its approach to the recording and completion of protection documentation; and
- control room risk assessment and triage.
Get the report
Humberside Police – National child protection inspection post-inspection review
Notes
- Although the sample size in our case review for this follow-up is different to our initial 2016 inspection, we are still able to draw valid conclusions.
- HMICFRS is inspecting the child protection work of every police force in England and Wales. The reports are intended to provide information for the police, the police and crime commissioner and the public on how well children are protected and their needs are met, and to secure improvements for the future.
- Under the National Child Protection Inspection (NCPI) programme, HMICFRS will assess how effectively each force in England and Wales safeguards children and young people at risk, make recommendations to forces for improving child protection practice, highlight effective practice in child protection work and drive improvements in forces’ child protection practice.
- Follow up activity by HMICFRS is an integral part of the NCPI programme. It allows inspectors to assess the progress each force is making in its work to improve services for the safety and protection of children.
- On 19 July 2017, HMIC took on responsibility for fire & rescue service inspections and was renamed HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services.
- HMICFRS is an independent inspectorate, inspecting policing and fire & rescue services in the public interest. It assesses and reports on the efficiency and effectiveness of police forces and fire & rescue services.
- HMICFRS inspects all 43 police forces in England and Wales together with other major policing and law enforcement bodies. It also inspects all 45 fire and rescue services in England.
- For further information, HMICFRS’ press office can be contacted from 8:30am – 5:00pm Monday – Friday on 020 3513 0600.
- HMICFRS’ out-of-hours press office line for urgent media enquiries is 07836 217729