‘COULD do better’ – that’s the verdict on West Mercia and Warwickshire Police forces in a report from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies (HMIC).
Both forces, currently in a strategic partnership, were deemed to require improvement in their effectiveness at keeping people safe and reducing crime.
HMIC assessed the two forces’ approach to preventing and investigating crime and anti-social behaviour, tackling serious and organised crime, managing offenders, and protecting those who are vulnerable.
HMI Wendy Williams said: “Following our assessment, HMIC judged that West Mercia Police needs to improve aspects of how it keeps people safe and reducing crime, although we found some areas of positive practice.
“Together with partners, the force has used a range of powers to keep people safe in public places including closure orders for premises linked to anti-social
behaviour and criminal behaviour orders.
“Alongside Warwickshire Police, the force has introduced a harm reduction hub in each local policing area to support the response to anti-social behaviour.”
With regards to Warwickshire, she said: “HMIC judged that although there are areas where Warwickshire Police is performing well, overall there are some aspects that need to improve.”
With regard to both forces she said they “need to develop their understanding of the threats from serious and organised crime,” while on Warwickshire she added that “new and emerging organised crime groups have not been properly assessed. The level of involvement of local policing teams in tackling organised crime groups is not effective in all areas.”
Overall, HMIC found that UK forces were not so effective in tackling ‘newer’ areas of organised crime such as child sexual exploitation and cyber-crime but that strides had been taken in dealing with domestic violence victims.
HMIC graded the effectiveness of each police force in England and Wales and judged one force to be ‘outstanding’ – Durham Constabulary – 24 forces to be ‘good’ and 18 forces to ‘require improvement’. No forces were judged to be ‘inadequate’.
