The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has made progress in
protecting vulnerable children in the capital but there is more
to do, according to the fourth in a series of child protection
reports carried out by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary
and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS).
A report into child protection in the MPS in 2016 found such
serious failings that the Home Secretary commissioned a series of
four reports, detailing improvements. This is the last of
those reports.
HM Inspector of Constabulary for the Metropolitan Police Service
Matt Parr said:
“I am aware that the Met has had to make drastic alterations in
order to make the significant changes required. We found
committed and dedicated officers and staff operating in an
increasingly complex and demanding environment, investigating
cases which are seldom straightforward. By and large, the
force is moving in the right direction, and senior officers have
demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting children.
“As a result, we found that the Met has made progress in a number
of areas since our initial report in 2016, with new structures,
training and oversight evident. However, many of these
initiatives are too recent to have led to consistently improved
outcomes for children. The force must maintain its momentum and
focus on ensuring the changes it is making are leading to a
better service for children in London.
“Over 2018, HMICFRS will continue to support and challenge the
Met as it seeks to make these critical improvements.”
Positive improvements include:
- the appointment
of a named officer lead for child protection;
- a team
currently dedicated to checking regularly and reporting on the
nature and quality of decision-making in child protection cases;
and
- a system which
briefs officers on registered sex offenders living in their
areas.
However, when inspectors reviewed a sample of 214 child
protection cases, almost 90 percent (191) were judged to be
either ‘requiring improvement’ or ‘inadequate’. While HMICFRS
acknowledges that the serious concerns identified in 2016 cannot
be resolved at once, the force must ensure the changes it is
making lead directly to improved outcomes for children in
London.
Additionally, the report found that in some areas, the volume of
work is contributing to delays in child protection
investigations, exacerbated by a lack of effective
supervision. This has led to inconsistencies in
investigations and the absence of appropriate oversight.
HMICFRS will re-visit the Met’s progress at improving outcomes
for children at least once in the next year, and seek
demonstrable improvements in relation to frontline practice and
outcomes and clear evidence of the effectiveness of the new
safeguarding structures being implemented. We will
also supplement this with tailored learning events and training
development support, to help ensure focus is maintained.
Notes:
- The previous interim reports into child protection in the Met
can be found at: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmicfrs/publications/metropolitan-police-service-national-child-protection-inspection/
- Although the sample size in our case review for this
follow-up is different to our initial 2016 inspection, we are
still able to draw valid conclusions.
- HMICFRS is inspecting the child
protection work of every police force in England and
Wales. The reports are intended to 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.
- On 19 July 2017, HMIC took on responsibility for fire &
rescue service inspections and was renamed HM Inspectorate of
Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services.
7. HMICFRS is an independent inspectorate,
inspecting policing and fire & rescue services in the
public interest. It assesses and reports on the efficiency and
effectiveness of police forces and fire & rescue
services.
8. HMICFRS inspects all 43 police forces in
England and Wales together with other major policing and law
enforcement bodies. It also inspects all 45 fire and rescue
services in England.
