The benefits of a new child safeguarding department in
Northumbria Police have yet to be realised, according to a report
published today by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and
Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).
The report welcomes the force’s investment in child protection
services, but voices concerns about how this investment has yet
to improve the service provided to children.
HM Inspector of Constabulary Matt Parr said:
“I am confident that the Northumbria Police takes its
safeguarding duties very seriously. Senior leaders have worked
hard to improve awareness of vulnerability and risk across the
force. Officers and staff had a strong understanding of what it
means to keep the vulnerable safe.
“However, we found evidence that poor recording practices often
undermined good police work. Frontline officers need to have
quick and easy access to investigation details to help them make
the right decisions. Incomplete or missing information can lead
to ineffective protection plans and leave children exposed to
unnecessary risk.
“Specialist officers are knowledgeable, committed and motivated.
I was encouraged to see that individual officers took an
effective investigative and protective approach to child
protection. But this approach needs to be applied more
consistently across the force.
"Northumbria Police has done some commendable work and is in a
strong position to improve its child protection strategy. We
expect to see further progress when we return later in the
year.”
Inspectors were pleased to find that:
- child abuse
cases were generally conducted in a timely and meaningful way;
and
- the force had
invested in training its frontline and specialist officers and
staff about their roles in safeguarding children.
Inspectors were concerned to find that:
- there was
insufficient oversight of decision making when children were
reported missing; and
- cases involving
domestic abuse with children in the family (but not present at
the time of the incident) were not conducted to the expected
standard.
