Northumbria 2018/19

Northumbria Police requires improvement in how it reduces crime and keeps people safe.

The force needs to improve how it tackles crime and anti-social behaviour. Its training for neighbourhood teams could be better to ensure that they have the skills needed to be effective. It has invested in neighbourhood policing and has new approaches to tackle the causes of local problems. The local approach to understanding communities and what they expect from their police force could be more consistent.

The force makes sure that it uses anti-social behaviour powers proportionately. It is working with partner organisations on early intervention programmes, such as the troubled families programme. But this approach differs between area commands and relies on partnership relationships.

The force is good at investigating crime and reducing re-offending. Investigators are suitably trained, and all staff are focused on giving victims good care. They are aware of the need to gather evidence as early as possible.

The force needs to improve how it protects vulnerable people from harm and supports victims. At times, Northumbria Police doesn’t have enough officers available to respond appropriately to vulnerable victims. The force undertakes good work around domestic abuse, but the quality of its risk assessments should improve.

Not all calls are correctly graded, and officers don’t always attend within the target time. To keep victims safe, the force should respond based on the initial risk assessment, and not on officer availability.

The force is good at tackling serious and organised crime.