Lincolnshire Police has made "significant progress" in its crime recording practices, finds inspectorate
Lincolnshire Police’s crime recording arrangements have dramatically improved over the past 18 months, according to a new report.
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Lincolnshire Police Crime Data Integrity re-inspection 2019
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) previously inspected how the force records crime in 2018. The Inspectorate identified multiple problems with the force’s crime recording capabilities, which resulted in it failing to record an estimated 9,400 reported crimes a year.
During a re-inspection carried out last year, HMICFRS found that the force has implemented a variety of measures which have led to significant improvements in how it records crime. As a result of these improvements, the Inspectorate estimated that the force now records an extra 5,800 crimes a year compared to the previous inspection period.
In percentage terms, the force has gone from a recording rate of just over 80 percent of all reported crimes (in 2018) to just over 90 percent during the current inspection period. This means that substantially more victims will now have their reported crimes recorded.
Today’s report, Lincolnshire Police: Crime Data Integrity re-inspection 2019, noted that the force has:
- established a new crime management bureau;
- introduced new training programmes for officers and staff involved in crime recording;
- introduced new software which allows for recording crimes on a mobile device; and
- implemented new scrutiny procedures, including for sexual offences.
The report did note, however, that there is still room for improvement. For example, recording of reported crimes received from third party agencies can be inconsistent.
HM Inspector of Constabulary Zoë Billingham said:
“Accurate and timely crime recording is not just an administrative matter. It increases the chances of a reported crime being properly investigated, meaning that the victim can get the justice they deserve.
“That is why I am so pleased with the results of this inspection into crime recording at Lincolnshire Police. In 2018, we rated the force’s crime recording as ‘inadequate’. In this latest inspection, however, we rated it as ‘good’. This is a really significant improvement.
“We identified several measures, at all levels, which have resulted in this improvement. For instance, I was particularly impressed with the force’s new crime recording improvement programme, which is managed through a crime data integrity board, chaired by the deputy chief constable.
“The force’s improved recording rate is underpinned by its overall culture and commitment to crime recording, which we graded as ‘outstanding’.
“All officers and staff should feel proud of this achievement, which ultimately means an improved service for victims of crime across Lincolnshire.”
Get the report
Lincolnshire Police Crime Data Integrity re-inspection 2019
Notes
- HMICFRS is an independent inspectorate, inspecting policing and fire and rescue services in the public interest. It assesses and reports on the efficiency and effectiveness of police forces and fire and rescue services.
- HMICFRS inspects all 43 police forces in England and Wales together with other major policing and law enforcement bodies. It also publishes data and thematic reports on areas of particular interest.
- Since 2017, HMICFRS been responsible for inspecting all 45 fire and rescue services in England.
- Crime Data Integrity inspections assess an individual police force’s response to reports of crime by the public, and the effectiveness of that response. The inspection includes an audit, which examines the extent to which a force is applying the correct rules, as well as fieldwork.
- For further information, HMICFRS’s press office can be contacted from 8:30am – 5:00pm Monday – Friday on 020 3513 0600.
- HMICFRS’s out-of-hours press office line for urgent media enquiries is 07836 217729.