Improvements needed in response to serious organised crime across Coventry and Warwickshire
The report by the inspectorate has come out today
Last updated 14th May 2024
A report into how police forces across the West Midlands tackle serious and organised crime has found improvements need to be made.
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) inspected the West Midlands ROCU and made graded judgments on how the unit and its four constituent police forces tackle serious and organised crime:
• The ROCU for the West Midlands has been graded as adequate.
• Warwickshire Police has been graded as requires improvement.
• West Midlands Police has been graded as adequate.
The inspectorate said that the West Midlands ROCU has effective structures and processes in place to gather and assess intelligence, and that it makes effective use of its specialist capabilities.
However, HMICFRS said that the West Midlands ROCU should improve its management of serious and organised crime offenders, and how it records disruption activity.
His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Andy Cooke said: “The Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) for the West Midlands has effective processes in place to collect and assess intelligence, supporting its ability to set priorities and tackle serious and organised crime. We found that the ROCU has a range of specialist operational capabilities, which it ensures its personnel and forces are aware of. It also prioritises tackling vulnerability, identifying opportunities to safeguard vulnerable people.
“However, the ROCU and its regional forces need to improve how they work together to tackle serious and organised crime. It’s also important that regional change is managed effectively by the newly appointed leaders in this area, to reduce any impact on services.
“We will be working closely with the ROCU and monitoring its progress against our new recommendations.”
FORCE'S REPLY - WEST MIDLANDS POLICE
Assistant Chief Constable Damian Barratt, of West Midlands Police, said: “We note and accept the findings of the inspection, and are absolutely committed to working with partners across the region to tackle those who cause the most harm to communities through serious and organised crime.
“Our officers work around the clock to ensure those involved in guns, drugs, exploitation and money laundering and other serious offences are brought to justice as quickly as possible.”
FORCE'S REPLY - WARWICKSHIRE POLICE
Chief Superintendent Daf Goddard, Warwickshire Police Head of Protective Services, said: "Almost a year ago the HMIC carried out a review of the force’s response to Serious and Organised Crime (SOC).
"While it is disappointing to be found as ‘requiring improvement’, the findings are broadly what we were expecting as we had already identified the areas for improvement and were actively putting measures in place to address these. As a result, I believe we have already come a long way since the review was carried out.
"Serious organised crime and the associated violence and exploitation of vulnerable people impacts on the whole community. I would like to reassure the public around our commitment to tackling this problem and bringing those responsible to justice.
"Every day we are being proactive in making the county as hostile as possible for people looking to commit crime. The public have a key role in tackling serious and organised crime, the information you provide helps to identify problem areas and put measure in place to address them. If you have any concerns about criminal activity in your area, please let us know."