Staffordshire Police has improved – but more to do
Staffordshire Police has improved in some areas but still has more to do, the police inspectorate has said.
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Staffordshire Police: PEEL Cause of concern revisit letter
Last year, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary moved Staffordshire Police into an enhanced monitoring process, known as Engage, because of concerns about the force’s performance.
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) revisited the force last month to review its progress, specifically in improving the service it provides to victims and how it investigates crime.
The inspectorate found the force had made progress in some areas, including in giving victims appropriate crime prevention advice and recording risk assessments properly.
However, the inspectorate said that while aspects of the force’s performance in investigating crime effectively had improved, they are still not up to the required standard. It found that:
- the force still is not providing adequate supervision throughout investigations and there has been no meaningful progress on this; and
- there has been some improvement on using investigation plans and recording consideration of evidence-based prosecutions, but the force is not doing either routinely yet.
His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary Wendy Williams said:
“Since moving Staffordshire Police into our enhanced monitoring process earlier this year, known as Engage, we have frequently and intrusively examined the force’s plans for improvement.
“As part of the Engage process, we revisited the force last month and found it had made progress in some areas. We welcome these improvements – they are positive steps in the right direction.
“However, the force has not made enough progress yet. These improvements need to be sustained and become routine. In addition, we have not seen meaningful progress on providing adequate supervision throughout investigations.
“As a result, while I am optimistic for the future, Staffordshire Police remains in the Engage process while we continue to closely monitor its progress.”
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Staffordshire Police: PEEL Cause of concern revisit letter
Notes
- For further information, please email HMICPressOffice@hmicfrs.gov.uk or call us on 0300 071 6781.
- More information about the HMICFRS monitoring process, including Engage, can be found on our website: Our approach to monitoring forces.