Bedfordshire Police told to improve how they investigate crime
A watchdog says the force have improved in a number of other areas though
A watchdog has ordered Bedfordshire Police to improve how they investigate crime and respond to the public.
The Bedfordshire force, along with Dorset and West Mercia, was scrutinised by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).
HMICFRS independently assesses the effectiveness and efficiency of police forces and fire & rescue services.
In a report out today (13 April), they said that Bedfordshire Police needed to improve its contact with the public.
However, there were significant improvements across other areas.
The watchdog focused its reports on the forces' effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy.
Findings from HMICFRS for Bedfordshire Police:
- Engaging with and treating the public with fairness and respect - GOOD
- Preventing crime and anti-social behaviour - GOOD
- Responding to the public - REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT
- Investigating crime - REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT
- Protecting vulnerable people - ADEQUATE
- Managing offenders and suspects - OUTSTANDING
- Building, supporting and protecting the workforce - GOOD
- Strategic planning, organisational management and value for money - GOOD
Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary Matt Parr said:
“Bedfordshire police has improved across a number of areas and performed well in keeping people safe and reducing crime.
“I congratulate the force on being the first to achieve an outstanding grade for the way it manages offenders and suspects. It has demonstrably reduced reoffending for serious offences like burglary and those involving domestic abuse. The force works well with other organisations to achieve these reductions.
“I am pleased to see that the force is still performing well in relation to stop and search. Its external scrutiny panel is important in making sure officers act with integrity and maintain public confidence. The panel consists of local residents and provides robust scrutiny of stop and search encounters, reviewing footage from officers’ body-worn video and giving feedback on this. The force is very open to this feedback and monitors trends so it can find ways to improve.
“These arrangements have again led to the force having impressive results in our stop and search audit. I congratulate the force on this achievement.
“However, the force still needs to work on its supervision of investigations, and on providing a consistently effective contact service with the public.
“Bedfordshire Police is aware of areas where it needs to improve further, and I am encouraged by its focus on the tasks ahead.”
You can see the report at:
Chief Constable Garry Forsyth, said:
“While the positives are great, perhaps more important is to identify areas for improvement, particularly when it involves victim care. The HMICFRS process gives us independent insight and can help shine a light on areas in need of focus.
"We have already made strides forward in some of the areas which were highlighted, and our PCC is also committed to helping us invest and focus on where we need to improve our service to the public.”
Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Festus Akinbusoye said:
“The fact the areas for improvement that the inspectorate has identified came as no surprise to the force executive says to me that the leadership of the force knows where more attention and investment needs to be made."
Read the full statement from Bedfordshire Police here:
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