I am satisfied with most aspects of Leicestershire Police’s overall performance. However, there are some areas where the force recognises that it needs to improve in order to provide a consistently good service.
I am very pleased that the force continues to provide a consistently good service to the public in preventing crime and anti-social behaviour.
The force works hard to understand the needs of the communities it serves, making good use of social media to help with crime prevention.
However, although the force has made some progress, I am disappointed that Leicestershire Police has not improved the way in which it protects some vulnerable victims. The force’s practice of downgrading risk in some high-risk domestic abuse cases is of particular concern. If these victims do not receive appropriate support from the police and its partner organisations, such as local councils, they could potentially be put at risk of further harm.
I am also concerned about how Leicestershire Police investigates crime. An overly complex process for dealing with investigations is hampering the force’s ability to carry out effective and timely investigations.
However, Leicestershire Police has effective processes to identify and then investigate organised crime groups. It is increasing its use of partnership information and intelligence to gain a better understanding of the threats posed by this high-end criminality and to take effective action against it. I am pleased to see that the force is working hard to prevent young people being drawn into this type of crime, as well as deterring those who have been involved in organised crime from returning to it.
I am reassured that Leicestershire Police has sustained its good track record of reducing costs and reinvesting in high-priority areas. It has a good understanding of the current demands for its services and is able to target its resources accordingly.
I am pleased that Leicestershire Police expects to increase spending on ever-expanding areas of policing such as child sexual exploitation and safeguarding, and I welcome its ambitious plans to increase its effective collaborative working with other forces. It is also working well with local councils, health, probation, fire and ambulance services to provide a more seamless public service; to share information; and to take a joined-up approach to solving local problems and supporting troubled families.
The force is committed to treating the people it serves with fairness and respect, and seeks both positive feedback and challenge from the public. It does, however, need to do more analysis of the information it receives from the public, to identify and address the areas it could improve on, with the aim of further increasing public trust.
The force responds well to reports of possible corruption, but greater capacity in its anti-corruption unit would enable it to seek out this information proactively. I would also like to see it do more to clarify and reinforce what constitutes acceptable behaviour, particularly in relation to abuse of power for sexual gain (taking advantage of a position of power to exploit vulnerable victims of crime).
I am pleased to confirm that the force treats its workforce fairly and respectfully. The focus on ensuring the well-being of staff and officers is testament to this, and it is encouraging that supervisors have a comprehensive understanding of their well-being responsibilities.
In summary, I am satisfied that in some areas the force continues to provide a good service to the people of Leicestershire. I am reassured that the force is addressing the areas for improvement that we have identified this year.
Context
Leicestershire Police provides policing services to the counties of Leicestershire and Rutland. Leicestershire has a high level of poverty, although there are some more affluent areas. The force area is home to around 1.1 million people, who mainly live in the city of Leicester and the towns of Loughborough, Market Harborough and Melton Mowbray.
The resident population is ethnically diverse, with 22 percent from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, and is increased by the very large number of university students and those who visit, socialise in, or travel through the county. The transport infrastructure includes 114 miles of motorway and trunk roads, rail stations and an airport.
The proportion of areas in Leicestershire that are predicted (on the basis of detailed economic and demographic analysis) to present a very high challenge to the police is broadly in line with the national average. The most challenging areas are generally characterised by a high concentration of people living, working, socialising, or travelling in the area.
Features which both cause and/or indicate a concentration of people include the number of commercial premises, including licensed premises and fast-food premises, public transport, and social deprivation. In some areas, these features are combined.
Working arrangements
Leicestershire Police works with other forces within the East Midlands and is part of a collaboration that provides policing and support services, such as major crime, special branch and forensics.
The force is also part of the East Midlands operations support service, a collaboration with Lincolnshire Police, Northamptonshire Police and Nottinghamshire Police that provides support such as armed response, search, roads policing and dog services.
Looking ahead to 2017
In the year ahead, I will be interested to see how Leicestershire Police responds to this assessment and to the areas for improvement that HMIC identified last year.
I will be particularly interested to see:
- how the force improves its investigations of crime and its services to vulnerable people;
- how the force develops its understanding of workforce’s skills and knowledge;
- how the force develops its understanding of the likely future demands for its services; and
- the progress of the force’s ambitious plans to increase further its collaborative working.
Zoe Billingham