HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS)
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HMIC publishes review of police response to major crime
A report published
today by H.M. Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) finds that some
police
forces lack the specialist skills and resources needed
to manage major crime incidents.
The report, “Major Challenge: A Thematic Inspection of Major
Crime”, reviewed the police
response across England and Wales
to the most serious incidents of violence and death,
including
homicide, attempted homicide and manslaughter, sexual assaults,
and other
serious offences.
H.M. Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Denis O’Connor, said,
“Major crime has devastating
impact on individual victims,
their families, and the wider community. This report
shows
that while the police response to homicide is improving,
some forces in England and
Wales are still failing victims and
families affected by major crime, and must improve their
services.”
HMIC found the majority of forces (39 of 43) met the Association
of Chief Police Officers
(ACPO) standard. The best four
performing forces were those in the larger,
metropolitan
areas; Greater Manchester, Merseyside,
Metropolitan and West Midlands. These forces
featured the
specialist investigators, processes and leadership necessary to
exceed the
standard set by ACPO. The four forces that did not
attain this standard were City of
London, Cumbria,
Lincolnshire and North Yorkshire, but these forces have assured
the
HMIC they are working to implement the changes that were recommended.
The inspection found progress had been made in the investigation
of homicide and by
some forces targeting the drivers of major
crime, such as gang and gun culture. However,
the report
raises concerns about the quality of rape and serious assault investigations.
The Chief Inspector added, “The public rightly expects their
local police service to protect
them from serious harm and
respond professionally when tragic events occur. While
most
forces can and do meet that expectation, some cannot.
This needs to change. Police
leaders must ensure that their
response to all major crime is of the highest quality, and
that
they work with partners to reduce risk and violence in
our communities.
The report finds that collaboration between forces may offer
police forces an opportunity to
share the cost of building the
skills and capabilities needed to address some of
these
issues. The benefits of collaboration between forces
have been explored by the HMIC in
“Getting Together”, a
previous report published in June 2009. “Major Challenge” also
calls
for the police to develop information that enables the
public to compare the quality and
value for money provided by
their local force.
HMIC will be monitoring the implementation of the recommendations
made in the “Major
Challenge” report and are also undertaking
an inspection of rape investigations across
England and Wales
forces in spring 2010.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The report, “Major Challenge: A thematic
inspection of crime”, is available on the HMIC
website: http://inspectorates.justice.gov.uk/hmic/
2. HMIC inspected forces between July and September 2008.
3. Denis O’Connor was appointed Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of
Constabulary (HMCIC)
in May 2009. He took over the role from
Sir Ronnie Flanagan.
4. HMIC is an independent inspectorate. It is a fierce advocate
for the public interest and
rigorously examines the
effectiveness of police forces and authorities to tackle crime
and
terrorism, improve criminal justice and raise confidence.
5. HMIC inspects and regulates all 43 police forces in England
and Wales together with
other major policing bodies such as
the Serious Organised Crime Agency, the Police
Service of
Northern Ireland and the British Transport Police.
6. Further information on the role of HMIC can be found at
www.inspectorates.homeoffice.gov.uk/hmic
7. The HMIC press office can be contacted on 0207 035 2712.
Contacts:
NDS Enquiries
ndsenquiries@coi.gsi.gov.uk
