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 West 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 West Yorkshire Police in keeping people safe and reducing crime. The improvements that the force has made are noteworthy.
The force is good at preventing crime and anti-social behaviour and has good arrangements in place to tackle serious and organised crime. Our inspections revealed concerns about the quality and consistency of its investigations, how vulnerable people are kept safe and the accuracy of some risk assessments. I am very pleased with how the force has responded to these findings and the work that it is undertaking to improve these aspects of its performance.
I am impressed by the force’s sustainable and affordable workforce model that organises the staff and officers according to the demands for its services. The leadership provides clear and ambitious direction. The force has a compelling programme of change underway to equip its people with the skills and resources they will need to provide policing services for the future. The innovative use of volunteers and special constables from local communities enhances the diversity of the workforce.
Description of force area
West Yorkshire Police provides policing services to the county of West Yorkshire. Although there are a number of more affluent areas, West Yorkshire has a high level of poverty. Around 2.3 million people mainly live in the urban conurbation which includes the cities of Leeds, Wakefield and Bradford, as well as several large towns surrounded by rural areas. The resident population is ethnically diverse, with 18 percent from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, and is increased by the very large number of students who study in the area’s numerous universities and the large numbers, who visit, socialise, commute into, or travel through the area each year. The transport infrastructure includes major rail stations and an airport.
The proportion of areas in West 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.
Exceptional events
The inaugural Tour de Yorkshire cycle race attracted an estimated 1.5 million spectators during May 2015. A significant policing operation undertaken by West Yorkshire Police and neighbouring police forces ensured the safe passage of the race through the county.
December 2015 saw parts of West Yorkshire suffer from severe weather conditions and flooding. The force was instrumental in protecting life, property and livestock, and in supporting communities across the area.
Working arrangements
The force is the lead force for the National Police Air Service and regional organised crime unit. The force also leads on the forensic services collaboration with the other forces in the Yorkshire and Humber region, providing both financial savings and improvements in the quality of service.
In May 2015, the suspension of the chief constable was lifted and he took up temporary a position with the National Police Chiefs’ Council. West Yorkshire Police currently has a temporary chief constable.
Effectiveness
In our effectiveness inspection, we judged West Yorkshire Police to be good at keeping people safe and reducing crime. The force works well to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour and on keeping people safe. In some aspects of protecting vulnerable people, and investigating crime and managing offenders, however, the force needs to make improvements. It has good arrangements for tackling serious and organised crime, and effective arrangements are in place to ensure that the force 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
West Yorkshire Police is very well prepared to face its future financial challenges. The force has positioned itself with a good understanding of its current demand but has a less well-developed understanding of its future demand. The force has ambitious plans for the future workforce, including development of its skills and capabilities. The force has balanced the budget and has planned a balanced budget through to 2017/18, although these future plans rely on reserves. In last year’s value for money inspection, which considered how forces had met the challenge of the previous spending review period, West Yorkshire was judged to be good.
Legitimacy
West Yorkshire Police engages well with its workforce. The temporary chief constable and chief officer team have clearly communicated to the workforce the standards expected from them. The force has a programme which sets out how it will develop and support its staff to police to high ethical and professional standards. We were pleased to hear from many of the officers and staff we spoke to that the force listened to its workforce and acted upon the feedback it received. Local police teams have a good understanding of their neighbourhoods and engage positively with local communities.
The force complies with the Best Use of Stop and Search scheme, and decisions made by Taser-trained officers are generally fair and appropriate.
This is the first time HMIC has graded forces on their legitimacy, so no year-on-year comparison is possible.
Leadership
West Yorkshire Police has elements of strong leadership in the force although there are areas where they could improve. The force’s scheme to identify and support talented officers and staff is particularly strong. Senior leaders are visible to the workforce and demonstrate effective leadership. The chief officer team communicates and engages well with its officers and staff and through the work of the change programme which is ongoing within the force.
Insights from other inspections
HMIC undertakes other inspections in addition to the PEEL programme. Since the last PEEL assessment there have been seven reports published on inspections that included West 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 at risk of domestic abuse;
- improvements in the accuracy of risk assessments;
- the progression of the change programme;
- improvements in the consistency of the allocation of crimes; and
- how the temporary chief constable will lead the force to achieve further improvement.
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.
