Leicestershire Police has demonstrated an improved standard of
practice when it comes to keeping children safe from harm,
according to a post-inspection review published today by Her
Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue
Services (HMICFRS).
The review includes the results of a case file audit which shows
that the force’s practice in 53 per cent of the child protection
cases examined was considered ‘good’. In a previous inspection
conducted in January 2017, only 29 per cent of cases examined
demonstrated ‘good’ practice.
HM Inspector of Constabulary Zoë Billingham
said:
“I am pleased to report that we have seen real improvement in the
way that Leicestershire Police keeps children safe from harm. The
senior leadership’s continuing commitment to child protection is
now translating into better outcomes for children. I am happy to
see that the force has invested in training and strengthened its
partnerships with other agencies, like local councils. As a
result, we identified good practice in more than half of the
child protection cases we reviewed.
“But that means that almost half of the cases we saw weren’t
carried out to a good enough standard. We found evidence that, in
some cases, poor decision making meant that children were not
always adequately safeguarded. The force recognises that
improvement is required in this area and is acting on our
findings.
Overall, I am most encouraged by the progress we have seen. I am
confident that Leicestershire Police will take this momentum and
continue to work on further improving outcomes for
children.”
The report also sets out that Leicestershire Police has:
- invested in training officers and staff about their role to
play in safeguarding children;
- improved its approach to child sexual exploitation; and
- introduced an innovative process to record strategy
discussions with external partners.
Notes:
- HMICFRS is inspecting the child protection work of every
police force in England and Wales. The reports provide
information for the police, the police and crime commissioner and
the public on how well children are protected and their needs are
met, and to secure improvements for the future.
- Under the National Child Protection Inspection (NCPI)
programme, HMICFRS will assess how effectively each force in
England and Wales safeguards children and young people at risk,
make recommendations to forces for improving child protection
practice, highlight effective practice in child protection work
and drive improvements in forces’ child protection practice.
- Follow up activity by HMICFRS is an integral part of the NCPI
programme. It allows inspectors to assess the progress each force
is making in its work to improve services for the safety and
protection of children.
