Cheshire Constabulary highlighted as ‘positive example’ in State of Policing report

The report, published on Wednesday (September 10), used Cheshire Constabulary as a “positive example” in a number of areas, including its commitment to protecting vulnerable people, its innovative use of media campaigns, and the training offered to all levels of leadership across the force.

The constabulary was also praised for the advice offered to victims of crime from dedicated teams within the control room and the support given to officers and staff members to allow them to carry out their roles efficiently.

And with the report highlighting how forces should improve their use of technology, West Midlands Police said it was already using “innovative systems” to ensure it gives the best service to its communities.

Cheshire Constabulary Chief Constable Mark Roberts said the positive report “reaffirms the force’s position as a leading police force committed to protecting residents and communities across the county”.

“I am incredibly proud that Cheshire Constabulary has been used as an example of best practice in the latest State of Policing report. I must commend our officers and staff for their continued dedication to the people of Cheshire,” he said.

“This praise comes off the back of our recent PEEL (Police Effectiveness, Efficiency and Legitimacy) inspection report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services earlier this year, in which we were graded ‘outstanding’ for the work we do to protect vulnerable people.

“The latest report commends our internal and external media campaigns for contributing to this, including our recent Consent Campaign, aiming to provide an innovative way to speak to young people about consent.

“We also have a dedicated team within our control room that provides post-incident support and advice to victims of crime. The State of Policing report highlights how this plays a ‘crucial role in making sure victims receive timely and appropriate assistance’, as well as working with partner agencies to reduce risks to vulnerable people.”

Mr Roberts added: “I am pleased that our training given to all levels of leadership was mentioned within the assessment report, including the support given to new recruits and how we promote the constabulary’s culture of wellbeing and inclusion across the force.

“This is a testament to the fact that we remain one of the best performing police forces in the country and we will continue to work to ensure Cheshire remains a safe place for those who live, work and visit here, while being hostile to criminals.”

Since last year, West Midlands Police has been using the latest artificial intelligence (AI) technology to fast-track the most vulnerable people who call the non-emergency number asking for help.

“We updated our technology to unlock the power of AI to make sure vulnerable callers using our 101 system are immediately through to our well-trained and experienced staff,” the force said.

“All non-emergency calls are analysed and those at risk of domestic violence or of harming themselves, or reports of missing children, are helped more quickly as a result of the system that was introduced in 2024.

“This is unique capability and designed to maximise the opportunity to provide help and support to those who need it most.”

As well as identifying vulnerable people needing support, the system messages investigators with requests for updates from victims once the crime number and other personal details have been verified.

It gives advice about lost and found property, transfers calls to custody and signposts people to organisations responsible for things like abandoned cars or noise nuisance.

It also allows people to switch to the website to make online crime reports – a channel the force said many people prefer.

West Midlands Police said its force contact was one of the top performing police contact centre’s in the UK.

In the past three months, it has taken almost 200,000 emergency 999 calls answering them on average in just one second.

“We have answered over 220,000 non-emergency 101 calls within an average of 21 seconds,” the force said. “In the most recent comparison to other forces, we are the quickest police force to answer out the public’s calls.

“In August, we were able to respond to emergency incidents in under ten minutes.”

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Welsted, responsible for West Midlands Police’s force contact, said: “The latest figures show we are one of the top performing forces in the country for answering 999 and 101 calls, providing the very best service possible to the public.

“Using AI technology is helping us to further improve how we answer and deal with calls round the clock.

“Alongside our fantastic staff who answer calls for service, we have invested in cutting edge technology, better understanding the purpose of 101 calls and signposting callers to the right solution to meet their need. This ensures we provide an outstanding service to people even during the busiest periods.”

Lancashire Constabulary’s Operation Centurion was highlighted in the report as “a good example of how neighbourhood policing should work when tackling anti-social behaviour”.

The report also highlights “impressive innovations” such as the use of robotic process automation to improve efficiency – which has saved the force £8.9 million.

In the report, Sir Andy Cooke also raises concerns about the sustainability of current funding models, echoing previous calls for a fairer approach that reflects the needs of communities rather than relying heavily on local council tax contributions.

Lancashire’s police and crime commissioner Clive Grunshaw has consistently championed neighbourhood policing and fair funding for Lancashire, and says the report strengthens the case for sustained investment in frontline services.

He agreed with the Chief Inspector’s view that neighbourhood policing remains the “most effective way to build community confidence”, and also backed his calls for changes to the “outdated and unfair” funding formula.

Mr Grunshaw said: “I’m really pleased to see our work in Lancashire to deliver the most efficient, effective policing service possible, recognised, alongside the best practice being shown through Operation Centurion, our response to anti-social behaviour across the county.

“Neighbourhood policing is the bedrock of public confidence and community safety, and I welcome the Government’s commitment to protecting and investing into the local teams that prevent crime and protect the public, through the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.

“This report rightly highlights the challenges forces face in maintaining these services, and I continue to support calls for a fairer funding model that reflects the needs of areas like Lancashire.

“I will keep working with the chief constable to ensure that neighbourhood policing remains a priority locally, and that we continue to deliver the visible, responsive policing that our communities expect and deserve.”