The police service is at a historic turning point – and there is
a limited window of opportunity to repair public trust, His
Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary has said.
In his first annual assessment of policing in England and Wales,
Andy Cooke has called for major reform, including new powers in
law for the inspectors of constabulary. These include giving the
chief inspector of constabulary power to give direction to a
police force when there are significant concerns about public
safety.
The chief inspector described widespread systemic failings in
both the police and criminal justice system, both of which
threaten to damage public trust in police. He has called for
definitive action to be taken to address these failings, instead
of "glossy strategies and mission statements" that do not bring
about lasting change.
In the State of Policing 2022, HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary
Andy Cooke has said:
- the police need to prioritise the issues that matter most to
the public;
- forces are failing to get the basics right in investigation
and responding to the public, and they need to concentrate on
effective neighbourhood policing; and
- critical elements of the police service's leadership and
workforce arrangements need substantial reform, such as more
scrutiny on vetting and recruitment processes, including for
chief officers.
The report makes three recommendations to the Government and
chief constables, which include:
- reviewing legislation to make HMICFRS’s remit of inspection
clearer and clarifying its power to inspect policing functions
delivered by police and crime commissioners;
- re-establishing the role of the inspectors of constabulary in
selecting and appointing police chief officers; and
- new research into the deterrent value of stop and search and
the causes of disproportionality in its use.
His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary Andy Cooke
said:
"I was a police officer for 36 years before I took this job. I am
in no doubt of the dedication, bravery and commitment of the vast
majority of police officers and staff. But there are clear and
systemic failings throughout the police service in England and
Wales and, thanks to a series of dreadful scandals, public trust
in the police is hanging by a thread.
"I am calling for substantial reform to give the inspectors of
constabulary more power to ensure we are able to do everything
necessary to help police forces improve. Over the years, we have
repeatedly called for change. There are only so many times we can
say the same thing in different words - it is now time for the
Government to bring in new legislation to strengthen our
recommendations.
"Change needs to start at the top. Chief constables and police
and crime commissioners need to do more to make sure their forces
are efficient and to get a grip on their priorities. The police
are not there to be the first port of call for people in mental
health crisis or to uphold social justice. They are there to
uphold the law.
"Forces need to show professionalism, get the basics right when
it comes to investigating crime, and respond properly when
someone dials 999. This is what matters most to the communities
they serve and this is the way forward for the police to regain
the public's trust. The fundamental principle of policing by
consent, upon which our police service is built, is at risk – and
it is past time to act."
State of Policing 2022 will be published on the HMICFRS website at 00:01 on
Friday 9 June 2023
