HMICFRS raises ‘serious concerns’ over West Midlands Police's performance

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) found the force was ‘inadequate’ in three areas in its latest PEEL report published on Friday (December 22).

It also graded West Midlands Police’s performance as only adequate in two areas and requires improvement in three areas.

Because of these concerns, last month the inspectorate moved West Midlands Police into an enhanced level of monitoring. HMICFRS says this process will provide additional scrutiny and support from across the policing sector to help West Midlands Police make improvements.

HMICFRS recognised that West Midlands Police prioritises the prevention and deterrence of crime, including actively seeking views and support from communities, and working with partners to reduce and prevent long-term crime and anti-social behaviour.

However, although the problems identified were highlighted in previous inspection reports, the “force’s performance has declined”, it said

The inspectorate recognised that the West Midlands has high levels of deprivation.

It also said that West Midlands Police’s funding has been disproportionately affected compared to some other forces, and that the force needs to have enough resources to prevent crime and protect the public effectively.

His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary Wendy Williams said: “I have serious concerns about how well West Midlands Police investigates crime, protects vulnerable people and manages offenders and suspects. We have highlighted these problems in previous inspection reports, but the force’s performance has declined.

“The force had a change in leadership in the year leading up to our inspection. They have implemented a robust performance framework to help make improvements. Most significantly, they have reviewed the force’s operating model and made rapid changes to it.

“I recognise the scale of the challenge senior leaders face in meeting demand and achieving sustainable improvements. At the time of our inspection, the force had only just put these changes in place, and there has not yet been time for most of the changes to fully develop.

“Given our findings, West Midlands Police is now in our enhanced monitoring process, which provides additional scrutiny and support. I recognise the rapid action taken by the senior team, and accept that it will take time to have the effect the leadership team wants.

“I am in contact with the chief constable and will continue to work closely with the force until the required improvements are made.”

West Midlands Police said many of the issues identified developed as a result of the previous operating model, and are based on data which does not reflect the improvements it has achieved since the launch of the force’s new operating model in April 2023.

Chief Constable Craig Guildford said: “When I joined West Midlands Police in December 2022 I set some clear priorities as I recognised there needed to be a significant improvement in the force’s performance and the service we provide to local communities.

“I am pleased that HMICFRS has recognised the rapid action that we have taken and that it will take time to have the effect we want and that we are determined to deliver. It is also important they have acknowledged the scale of the challenge we face in securing the funding and resources we need to meet demand and prevent crime and protect the public effectively.

“We have been working very hard over the past 12 months to improve the force and we changed our operating model in April this year.

“We have already made substantial and sustained improvements and we look forward to engaging with HMICFRS in 2024.”

Since implementing the new local policing model, changing force contact and opening two more custody suites, the arrest rate has increased by more than 40 per cent.

“We have also increased the number of offenders brought to justice and this continues to improve each month,” the force said.

“We have gone from being one of the worst call-handling forces to one of the best in 11 months and we now rank third in the country, answering 96 per cent of calls in ten seconds in November with an average response time of three seconds.

“We have also improved the proportion of emergency incidents attended within our specified targets by 25 per cent, and we are now arriving at the most serious incidents in an average of 12 minutes which is two minutes faster than in March.”

West Midlands Police says as a result of the changes made, data is showing some “significant reductions” in crime. Overall crime is nine per cent lower with reductions in burglary and vehicle crime.

“We are working hard to improve investigations and we now have a detailed plan which is already delivering improvements,” the force added.

“We have achieved 4,000 more detections (30 per cent more) in the first nine months of year.

“The number of rapes we solve has also increased significantly, and HMICFRS recognised our work to help develop national practice to improve how the police respond to and investigate rape and other serious sexual offences.”

Mr Guildford said: “West Midlands officers and staff remain focused on doing their very best to keep the public safe and bring offenders to justice.

“I have every confidence that we will continue to deliver sustained improvements for local communities in 2024 and evidence this to HMICFRS.”