Police given ‘good’ rating - The Worcester Observer

Police given ‘good’ rating

Worcester Editorial 19th Apr, 2017   0

LOCAL police services have been given the thumbs up by Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary.

In the latest PEEL (Police Effectiveness, Efficiency and Legitimacy) assessment of both West Mercia and Warwickshire Police the two forces scored ‘good’ across the board for keeping people safe and reducing crime.

Speaking on West Mercia, which has former Redditch beat bobby Anthony Bangham as Chief Constable, HMIC Wendy Williams said: “I am pleased with the progress the force has made in the way it protects vulnerable people. I am particularly pleased with its improved response to reports of missing children, which now reflects a greater understanding of factors that increase the risk of harm to children.

“The force continues to have a high standard of investigations, and since last year it has increased the capacity of its specialist investigators and its ability to review digital evidence, which is a significant achievement.”




However while praising the action the force has taken to tackle organised crime she called for it to take greater steps to identify those at risk of being drawn into crime and take steps with partner organisations to deter them from offending.

Speaking on Warwickshire Police, which is in a strategic alliance with West Mercia, Ms Williams said: “I am pleased with the improvements Warwickshire Police has made  in its approach to serious and organised crime.


“The force now works well with other organisations to disrupt and investigate organised criminality, and to limit the harm it causes.

“However, it needs to improve the evaluation of its disruption activities, and its neighbourhood teams could be more involved in disrupting the activity of organised crime groups.

“I am pleased by the force’s work with other organisations to discourage young people who may be tempted into criminal lifestyles.”

Overall both forces represent good value for money with West Mercia fielding three officers per 1,000 head of population (a frontline force of 75 per cent) and costing 45p per person per day to run compared with the national average of 55p.

Warwickshire has 2.7 officers per 1,000 head of population, (a frontline force of 80 per cent) and costs 46p per person per day to run.

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