Humberside Police Told To Improve By HMIC
A latest inspection looked at the force's effectiveness and rated it as 'requiring improvement'.
Humberside Police 'requires improvement' when it comes to keeping people safe and reducing crime.
That's the findings of a HMIC inspection into the effectiveness of the force.
HMIC rated police forces across the UK and found Humberside Police still has work to do in the way it investigates crimes and the support it offers to repeat or vulnerable victims.
It's just months since the force was rated as the only one in the country to be 'inadequate' by HMIC.
The report says:
"Humberside Police has more work to do to improve crime investigation, but it has improved how it manages offenders.
"The force is committed to protecting the most vulnerable victims but needs to improve how it responds to repeat or vulnerable victims.
"It is good at identifying and disrupting the activity of organised crime groups and has effective arrangements in place to ensure that it can fulfil its national policing responsibilities.
"The force has addressed some of the recommendations from HMIC’s crime inspection in 2014. It has improved the way it prevents crime and anti-social behaviour. However, there is still more work for the force to do in the ways it allocates and investigates crimes, which are inconsistent and lead at times to untrained staff investigating crime."
Deputy Chief Constable of Humberside Police Gary Forsyth insists significant improvements have already been made. He told Viking:
“We acknowledge the latest HMIC report that highlights some of the issues we have already taken steps to improve since the inspection in October. Only last week we were graded “good” for the way we understand and involve our communities.
“Humberside is one of only nine forces in the country to maintain its performance and not see an increase in overall recorded crime in information released nationally. We are fully aware of the need to continue to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour and are working hard to address these issues.
“HMIC has said that the public should be confident we are working to address any challenges and I want to echo that. Since I arrived here last year there has been significant progress, although I am the first to admit that much remains to be done.
“We now answer calls from the public faster, deal with their issues better, have improved the way we investigate crime and put resources where, and when, they are most needed. “We have recently introduced new community policing teams who will remain in their dedicated areas giving them more time to work with local people and help prevent crime and disorder. HMIC has indeed acknowledged the work we already undertake with young people to provide them with positive choices and equip them with life skills.
”Local detectives now work within the community teams supporting the investigation of crime in order to bring those who disrupt people’s lives to justice. Community patrol officers deal with all emergency calls, ensuring that beat officers are not pulled away from their local area where they can make a real difference.
“It is pleasing that HMIC has recognised the successful way we manage the threat posed by some of the most serious offenders and organised crime groups. We are making it clear to such groups that Humberside is not the place to spread their misery and we will target them and disrupt their offending.
“Our teams are absolutely committed to ensuring Humberside remains one of the safest places to live, work and visit and we will continue to protect those who are most vulnerable. We are on the right track, heading in the right direction and will continue to make every effort to improve.”