HMICFRS ‘extremely disappointed’ as forces fail to improve crime investigations

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services said it was “extremely disappointed” that it had seen little evidence of improvement since its previous inspection of police investigations.

Of the 13 forces assessed under the new inspection regime, four were rated adequate, seven required improvement and two were inadequate for investigating crime.

The inspectorate said officers were continuing to struggle with some of the basic requirements of a good investigation, including gathering evidence during the crucial “golden hour”, pursuing appropriate lines of enquiry, allocating crimes to suitably skilled investigators and keeping victims updated. Supervisors were also failing to provide sufficient oversight of cases.

HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary Michelle Skeer said the findings were particularly concerning because the problems went beyond individual cases. Investigators were being overwhelmed by workloads, while forces were failing to properly understand the volume of crime-related demand or the skills and capacity needed to deal with it, the report said.

The consequences for victims could be significant, with poor investigations leaving them uncertain about what was happening in their cases and reducing confidence in the police.

The inspectorate said better-performing forces had clear systems for allocating investigations, stronger governance and audit arrangements and supervisors who actively directed cases rather than simply checking compliance. But none of the forces inspected had demonstrated all the characteristics of good investigative performance, it said.

The findings come as policing faces what Ms Skeer described as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” for reform. In her annual assessment of policing in England and Wales, she backed the Government’s plans for a major overhaul of policing, including the creation of a National Police Service.

She said the reforms could address “long-standing problems that have held the police service back”, provided they were properly implemented and adequately funded. But she warned that reform must preserve the operational independence of chief constables and ensure officers and staff were properly supported.

The report says policing is under increasing strain as crime, threats and public expectations change while forces face financial pressures.

Ms Skeer said: “Policing has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make changes that could improve how forces operate for many years to come.” She added that the reform programme should help tackle longstanding problems, but warned: “While making changes, the government must take care to preserve our system of policing by consent and safeguard the operational independence of chief constables.”

The inspectorate also highlighted growing pressure on the police workforce. Its latest workforce and wellbeing survey, involving 55,602 respondents, found that 45 per cent said they often or always felt burnt out because of work, while 56 per cent reported often or always feeling fatigued or physically exhausted.

The report nevertheless identified areas of progress, including neighbourhood policing and the police response to group-based child sexual exploitation. It said the response to group-based CSE had improved through better training, stronger leadership, improved investigations and a more victim-focused culture, although significant inconsistencies remained between forces.

Ms Skeer said: “This is a pivotal moment for policing. Policing in England and Wales has many strengths, but there remain areas where improvements are needed. If managed correctly, I firmly believe that reform presents a significant opportunity to deliver a better service for both the public and those working within policing.”