Dorset Police reveal how they're improving officer vetting procedures
It follows a report from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary
Dorset Police have been setting out exactly how they're making improvements to vetting procedures for new officers recruited into the force.
This comes after a report from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) into the effectiveness of counter corruption.
Our county force has been flagged up as needing to make further improvements, but it's been stated that 'significant progress' has been made.
Both Dorset Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner's Office say they 'welcome the report'.
What's been changed?
We're told that since the inspection was carried out in March 2022, IT systems within the force have been 'modernised' to help 'monitor and proactively collect intelligence from desktop and handheld devices'.
That includes checking that officers are using apps in an acceptable way on their work phones.
Additional resources have also been brought in to the counter corruption unit, to address the issues picked up in the report.
The force says that has 'increased the capability to weed out corruption and deal robustly' with any staff involved.
Deputy Chief Constable Sam de Reya said:
“We welcome this report and note all of the recommendations made by HMICFRS. Dorset Police will continue to prioritise standards in our vetting and counter corruption arrangements to ensure the public continue to have confidence in our procedures and those suitable for a role in policing.
“The public should quite rightly have confidence the Force will work proactively to identify unprofessional and unethical behaviour, and when standards fall below expectations, swift action will be taken. The Force continues to focus on giving officers and staff the confidence to call out and report any abusive, inappropriate, or discriminatory behaviour. Our approach to development includes bespoke training for first and second line managers focussing on standards and ethics and communications involving a forcewide integrity health check.
“I am pleased that the report stated that the Force has an effective vetting system. It identified that there was a tiny proportion of individuals who did not have up-to-date vetting, however they had been subject to vetting procedures and steps had already been taken by the Force to update their records.
“I would like to reassure our communities that none of those officers and staff identified within the national report were found to be in Dorset and our vetting of all officers, staff, volunteers and contractors are up to date.
“The report also identified that the Force is effective at predicting future vetting demand including the additional recruitment of police officers as a result of the national Uplift programme. The Force is developing the improved use of information to monitor protected characteristics to ensure any potential disproportionality in our vetting decisions are identified and responded to accordingly.
“I acknowledge that HMICFRS identified that our counter corruption unit needed to have better links with partner agencies and organisations who support vulnerable people. This is an area we have been working on for some time and I am pleased to say that we are already seeing a significant improvement in working with our partners to support the most vulnerable in our communities. This is an area of engagement we are looking to expand upon further.
“In its report, HMICFRS positively highlighted the Force’s counter corruption control strategy recognising that it received intelligence from a range of sources and in most cases responded effectively. While it recognised that awareness had been raised about abuse of position for a sexual purpose, it recommended that more progress needed to be made. This has been a constant theme for forcewide training and communications over the last 18 months.
“Dorset Police is proud of the people who deliver a quality public service to our communities, and we will continue to ensure only those who are suitable for the role and appropriately vetted work within policing.”
In his latest statement, he said:
“I welcome the findings of this dedicated report for Dorset from the HMICFRS. I note that the report references the significant progress that has already been made and that there are further recommendations for improvement.
“Last year, I challenged the Force on a number of key areas including their vetting procedures, anti-corruption capabilities and the robustness of the Force response to allegations. I received not only a detailed response to the challenge but the assurance that they will continue to prioritise standards in these areas, so that the public have confidence in such important procedural matters.
“My office will continue to work closely with Dorset Police to ensure efforts to address the areas for improvement highlighted in the report are done so swiftly, and that the high standards that the Force have placed upon them are met and exceeded upon."