‘New report shows that police are doing well’

He has welcomed this week’s report into police performance, issued by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC).

The Police Effectiveness, Efficiency and Legitimacy (PEEL) assessments were conducted by the HMIC for all forces across the country.

Warwickshire Police achieved a high public satisfaction rate of 83.8 per cent, and ‘good’ ratings in the three categories of reducing crime and preventing offending, investigating offending, and tackling anti-social behaviour.

In addition, crime rates have dropped by 15 per cent over the past four years, and the HMIC found that the force has a ‘strong response to preventing and reducing crime’.

Whilst praising the professionalism and hard work of the force, the commissioner (pictured above) raised concerns about the current HMIC inspection regime as being “too intrusive” and “producing large numbers of uncosted recommendations” which risk undermining the value of the process.

He said: “It is very gratifying that the professionalism and hard work of the force have been recognised in this way. This is also a real testament to the joint working of the Strategic Alliance with West Mercia, through which we have achieved a number of successes.

“However I believe the HMIC’s current inspection regime is too intrusive. The number of inspections producing large numbers of uncosted recommendations, is in my view, undermining the value of the process – significant messages risk being swallowed by the sheer volume of output.

“I really value the process of being inspected by a trusted and independent body like HMIC. I look forward to working with them, hopefully to develop a more targeted and less intrusive system which would be of more value to myself, the force and more importantly – the public.”