Response by the Police and Crime Commissioner to HMIC Inspections of Hampshire Constabulary Inspection Details
Title of Inspection: PEEL Effectiveness Report 2016 – Hampshire Constabulary Date Inspection Published: 2 March 2017 Deadline for Response: 30 March 2017 Type of Inspection: Hampshire Constabulary Specific
Thematic
National
Partner Inspection
Follow up Is Hampshire Constabulary quoted? Yes No Are there any recommendations / areas for improvement? National Local
Date response sent: 03/04/2017 (Responses to be sent to sof.scetion55responses@homeoffice,gsi.gov.uk & PCC@hmic.gsi.gov.uk )
FORCE RESPONSE: The HMIC report on Effectiveness is the third of the 2016 graded PEEL inspection reports. The Constabulary was graded “good” for Efficiency and Legitimacy, but for the Effectivness report have been given a “requires improvement” grading. In many areas HMIC recognised that Hampshire Constabulary is doing a good job. Our commitment to neighbourhood policing is highlighted positively, as is our approach to serious and organised crime and our specialist capabilities. The report is also positive about our initial response in the Force Enquiry Centre and control room, missing people and our mental health response. Where inspectors spoke with officers and staff across the force they found “without exception” a good knowledge of vulnerability, including child sexual exploitation, modern slavery and domestic abuse. The report focuses heavily on some parts of the Constabulary’s response to domestic abuse. In particular the fact that, at the time of the inspection, the domestic abuse arrest rate was very low. It is now an area of force focus to ensure that we arrest in all appropriate circumstances. Since the inspection the arrest rate has risen from 25% to 42%. The report also found that the Constabulary were using a telephone based risk assessment for some domestic abuse cases. This was stopped in December 2016 pending academic evaluation. The report also found that the Constabulary was using Outcome 16 (victim refuses to prosecute) on too many occasions. This is the subject to current review to see why this is the case an action plan and update will be provided to HMIC in May 2017. The report identifies that there has been a reduction in outcomes of 20%.This occurred at the same time that the Constabulary has made significant changes and cuts which equate to a 26% reduction in our resources, and which were completed in April 2016.
Date response sent: 03/04/2017 (Responses to be sent to sof.scetion55responses@homeoffice,gsi.gov.uk & PCC@hmic.gsi.gov.uk )
PCC RESPONSE TO THE REPORT: “I acknowledge the grading attributed to Hampshire Constabulary ‘Effectiveness’ by HMIC as requires improvement. This is a downgrade on the previous year’s inspection. These areas for improvement should be seen in the context of the good work being undertaken in the areas of prevention, Neighbourhood policing and Scenes of Crime. I will look closely at the areas highlighted in the HMIC report. However, there is a need to balance areas for improvement with the good work being delivered, if appropriate public confidence is to be maintained overall whilst recognising the particular areas for improvement. Vulnerability We hear from victims that their priority is for the abuse to stop, and that arrest is not always the preferred option. As a result I continue to support Hampshire Constabulary in their trialling of innovative approaches to supporting victims. We want to make people safer and to do this we must look at the root cause and stop abusive behaviours, and of course arresting in the most extreme of cases and ensuring they are fast tracked through the Criminal Justice System. Hampshire Constabulary have a high conviction rate on arrest in relation to domestic abuse, and additionally achieving good results through utilising restorative justice. The full range of approaches to vulnerability need to inform the specific results from particular areas inspected. The HMIC assessment criteria would be enhanced if the scope and depth of the actions undertaken by the Constabulary set the context for those being measured by HMIC. Investigations Today’s current pressures require managed risk to deliver timely action. The force recognise the current system of investigations is not sustainable and that there is not always sufficient resourced compared to the volume of work. The current measure of crimes per officer indicates Hampshire is above the national average. It is for my Chief Constable to allocate resources to ensure operational effectiveness. But I agree there is a need for increased supervision for investigating officers. While the Constabulary have responded to this, progress is slower than needed to get to a stable and sustainable performance. As PCC I will continue to scrutinise and hold the Chief Constable to account to ensure resources are deployed to make appropriate progress. Michael Lane, Police and Crime Commissioner Date response sent: 03/04/2017 (Responses to be sent to sof.scetion55responses@homeoffice,gsi.gov.uk & PCC@hmic.gsi.gov.uk )