HMIC: Improvement required in understanding vulnerability

Concerns have been raised over the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s (PSNI) ability to support vulnerable victims and its long-term financial stability.

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) inspected the PSNI on two areas of policing, grading the force ‘good’ at the efficiency with which it keeps people safe but ‘requires improvement` in how effective it is at supporting vulnerable victims.

HMIC said while the force was efficient at keeping the public safe and reducing crime, there were inconsistencies in the training of contact management staff resulting in a lack of a comprehensive understanding of different types of vulnerability.

Inspectors were disappointed to note the response to missing children and reports of domestic abuse is “not consistently good”, nor is it yet prepared fully to tackle child sexual exploitation (CSE).

The inspections were commissioned by the Department of Justice Northern Ireland as part of annual policing performance inspections and carried out in February 2016.

In two reports, published on Thursday (August 4), HMIC praised the development of links between child protection specialists and social workers, but noted that work is still to be done to develop relations with private sector companies including hotels, fast-food outlets and taxi drivers to prevent and gather intelligence about sexual exploitation.

The service has also improved its completion of domestic abuse, stalking, harassment and honour-based violence (DASH) risk assessments and its investigation of offences involving domestic abuse is rated good.

However, it needs to clarify who in the service has responsibility for making referrals to partner and voluntary agencies.

HMIC found that PSNI uses its resources well and has a good understanding of the current demand on its service. However, current long-term financial and workforce plans are too reliant on officers. Police staff overtime and sickness levels are too high, inspectors said.

Efforts to balance the force’s budget were praised but workforce planning and the development of a new IT infrastructure are constrained by annual budget arrangements which, unlike forces in England and Wales, mean the PSNI is unable to carry forward underspends, build reserves or borrow money.

Inspectors also expressed concern that more than 20 per cent of police officers are eligible to retire in the next three years and the PSNI is unclear on the skills that will be lost or are required from its workforce in the future.

HM Inspector of Constabulary Michael Cunningham said: “We were pleased to find that the service is demonstrating a good understanding of current demand for its services and is good at financial management. 

“We have identified areas where it could be more efficient – including building a clearer understanding of future demand, and better planning for how it uses its workforce.

“I am encouraged that leadership of the force has made the protection of vulnerable people a clear priority. We will continue to monitor how this commitment results in improved service for vulnerable victims.”

Responding to the reports, PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Drew Harris said the the force has placed a strong emphasis on protecting the most vulnerable in society.

“The HMIC’s inspection will allow us to further develop the work undertaken by our public protection branch,” he said.

“We have dedicated additional detective resources to the investigation of CSE. We have strengthened our relationships with health trusts to ensure consistency of appropriate investigative response to complaints of child abuse and domestic abuse.”