Durham Constabulary ‘outstanding’ for third year running

Durham Constabulary has been graded as outstanding across all areas of efficiency for the third year running.

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has today published the latest findings for police efficiency, which is part of the annual PEEL programme of inspections (police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy) and looks at how efficient forces are at keeping people safe and reducing crime.

The efficiency inspection was broken down into three areas – how the force understands the demands for its services; how it uses resources, and planning for the future.

Durham Constabulary was graded ‘outstanding’ – the highest grade – in each area.

Only two forces from 43 across England and Wales received an overall grading of ‘outstanding’ – Durham and Thames Valley.

The HMIC report said: “The force has extensive and creative plans in place to meet a variety of future scenarios of demand and budget and is well-placed to meet any future circumstances.”

It added: “Durham Constabulary has an excellent understanding of the demand for its services, both now and looking ahead to changing crime patterns.

“The senior leadership team promotes a culture where officers and staff of all ranks are encouraged to offer their views and senior leaders regularly go out on patrol with more junior officers. It has carried out detailed analysis of the skills of its workforce and leadership capability and revises these plans regularly.

“Durham Constabulary is to be congratulated on its consistently high level of achievement in their financial planning.”

Durham Constabulary currently holds an ‘outstanding’ grade for being effective (keeping people safe and reducing crime) and a ‘good’ grade for legitimacy, making it one of the top performing forces in the country.

Chief Constable Mike Barton said: “The acid test of any organisation, especially public funded organisations, is how wisely they spend their money.

“The public of County Durham and Darlington should be reassured that Durham Constabulary has, for the third year running, been graded as outstanding across all areas of efficiency.

“What this means is we understand our demand, we use our resources well and we plan for the future in an outstanding way.

“The report makes satisfying reading and shows we work well with outside organisations and the public.”

The report praised Durham’s culture of inclusivity and said the force has ‘an outstanding approach to seeking new ideas from its workforce’. In particular, it praised the 100 Little Things initiative which encourages staff to submit suggestions for improvements covering anything from the type of pen issued to officers, to new policies and working patterns.

Mr Barton added: “We constantly look to innovate and implement new ideas, and the 100 Little Things initiative is a prime example of this. However, clearly someone cannot count as we have completely excelled our target – we now have 140 Little Things!”

Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner, Ron Hogg, said: “This is yet another feather in the cap for Durham Constabulary.

“It is a rare recognition for a force to be so consistently awarded the high grades which the officers and staff have received. To be one of only two forces in the country is an indication of how challenging it is.

“I offer my heartiest congratulations to everyone associated with Durham Constabulary who has worked so hard to make this possible.

Cleveland Police good at keeping people safe and tackling crime say inspectors

Cleveland Police is good at keeping people safe and has strong and effective leadership according to inspectors.

The rating forms part of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) annual inspection of police efficiency and leadership.

Chief Constable Iain Spittal said: “This report is testament to the hard work of our officers and staff, who should be proud that their dedication and professionalism has been recognised so positively.

“I joined Cleveland Police in 2013 and, as previously announced, will retire later this year. In this time I can honestly say that this is the most positive report I have read about the progress we are making to deliver effective policing, protect our communities from harm and strengthen those same communities.

“The next Chief Constable of Cleveland Police will be in a position of leading a Force which has been recognised as a ‘good’ performer by HMICFRS and he or she will be well placed to continue our journey towards ‘outstanding’.

The report highlights the Force’s strengths in forward planning, understanding demand, listening to and receiving feedback from its workforce, seeking and implementing new ideas and effective partnership working

Northumbria Police praised as ‘Good’ in latest inspection

A POSITIVE culture with an excellent understanding of the demand for its services and solid financial plans – those are the findings of the latest independent report into Northumbria Police.

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has carried out its annual assessment of how well police forces are managing finances and understanding demand.

Forces were assessed against the overarching question ‘How efficient is the force at keeping people safe and reducing crime?’ with four possible ratings available; ‘outstanding’, ‘good’, ‘requires improvement’ and ‘inadequate’.

Northumbria received a ‘Good’ rating overall.

In the three separate areas assessed at as part of the inspection, the force was rated ‘Good’ for understanding its demand, ‘Good’ for how well it uses its demand and ‘Good’ for how well the force is planning for the future.

The inspection found:

• Northumbria Police has an excellent understanding of the demand for its services and has well-developed processes to uncover demand that is less likely to be reported

• The force has recognised that demand for safeguarding vulnerable people has been increasing and has put extra resources into this area of policing

• The force works hard to evaluate current internal demand so that any inefficiencies can be quickly spotted and dealt with

• The leaders of Northumbria Police have created a culture in which the whole workforce feels that it can contribute ideas to improve the force. The force has created a very positive culture of openness

• The force is investing heavily in information technology. It recognises the opportunities and threats from changes in technology

• The financial plans for the force are detailed and it has solid plans for the future that have been tested and examined independently to ensure that they are fit for purpose

The inspection found that an area for improvement is for the Force to explore new ways to identify talent and ensure individuals reach their full potential.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Dame Vera Baird QC said: “Despite all the financial challenges policing faces, I am delighted that our force has been recognised for providing an efficient and well-managed service.

“Neighbourhood policing is a priority of mine - I have worked closely with the Chief Constable to squeeze every penny out of every pound to ensure we protect it. Police officers are now closer to the communities they serve through the investment of new technology to keep officers engaging with local residents.

“To provide neighbourhood policing we need a fair funding settlement. The Chief Constable and I have made clear to the Home Secretary what is needed for Northumbria – she now needs to deliver.

“Finally, special thanks to all of our staff and officers who continue to go the extra mile, without them we could not achieve what we do.”

Temporary Chief Constable of Northumbria Police, Winton Keenen, added: “This report is welcome news and is testament to all the hard work done on a daily basis by everyone in Northumbria Police.

“Our force has received the biggest cut in government grant out of all police forces in England and Wales since 2010, a reduction of £123m from our revenue budget.

“It is therefore, particularly pleasing that we have not only been recognised for having robust financial plans in place, but also that we are deemed fit for purpose when it comes to meeting the increasing demands put on our service.

“However, we certainly won’t be complacent. Providing a high standard of service to people who need our help is our priority and we will continue to do everything we can to achieve that.