Hertfordshire PEEL 2018
Efficiency
How efficiently does the force operate and how sustainable are its services to the public?
How well does the force use its resources to meet the demand it faces?
This question was not subject to detailed inspection in 2018/19, and our judgment from the 2017 efficiency inspection has been carried over.
How well does the force plan for the future?
Hertfordshire Constabulary has a sophisticated understanding of demand and is well placed to assess and predict likely future changes in demand. Its ability to predict and respond quickly to the rise in county lines criminality exemplifies its ability to tackle emerging demand.
It has worked hard to keep a strong and visible local policing presence. Despite financial challenges, it has managed to keep neighbourhood teams in each of its ten local policing areas. Good IT investment has also contributed to officers being able to spend more time being visible and accessible to communities.
The force’s new Echo IT project should help it establish what matters to the public. It can then consider how best to respond to the issues the public raises.
Hertfordshire Constabulary is investing significantly in recruitment. It shares its human resources (HR) function with Bedfordshire Police and Cambridgeshire Constabulary as part of their tri-force collaboration. But it needs to assure itself that the HR team can provide an appropriate service to meet current and future demands, and that there is a comprehensive future-skills strategy in place.
The force’s medium-term financial plans are prudent and it has a strong understanding of its future position.
In 2017, we identified understanding of leadership skills and leadership development as areas for improvement. The force has made some progress to date.
Areas for improvement
- The force should make sure that future recruitment and staff development are supported by a functional and adequately resourced human resources team.
- The force should develop a comprehensive skills strategy to identify what future capabilities its workforce will need.