Inspection highlights improvement at Essex Police in investigating crime and response to the public

The latest His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) PEEL inspection graded the force as ‘good’ for crime data integrity (how accurately crime is recorded) meaning victims of crime can access appropriate support. The same grade was given for building, supporting and protecting its workforce.

It was graded as ‘adequate’ for how it treats the public, preventing crime, responding to the public, investigating crime, leadership and force management and managing offenders.

However, it was graded as ‘requires improvement’ in the areas of protecting vulnerable people.

Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington acknowledged there are areas to improve, but work was already ongoing to address these issues.

“We’re focused on continuous improvement,” he said.

“Our Neighbourhood Policing Teams are expanding this spring and will be easier to reach and meet up with, so we make Essex a safer place – unless you’re a criminal.

“Crime and anti-social behaviour continues to fall in Essex and we are pleased that HMICFRS have recognised how we have improved in ‘responding to the public ‘and ‘investigating crime’ since our last inspection.”

HM Inspector of Constabulary Roy Wilsher said: I am pleased with some aspects of the performance of Essex Police in keeping people safe, reducing crime and providing victims with an effective service. I am satisfied with most other aspects of the force’s performance, but there are areas in which it needs to improve.

“Although the force’s funding is at the lower end of the typical range for police forces in England and Wales, the number of officers and demand in terms of incidents, 999 calls and 101 calls are in line with other forces.

“The funding position for Essex Police has created operational challenges and I recognise the force’s desire to secure the best possible position moving forward. There is a commitment to invest in the prevention of crime, which not only keeps victims safe but also reduces demand.

“More broadly, I am pleased with the strong leadership, governance and performance management framework of the force. Essex Police has been receptive to feedback throughout this inspection and, where necessary, has taken immediate steps to improve how it protects the public.

“The force has invested in leadership and management training to support the inexperienced members of its workforce. The force is also taking steps to upskill local policing team officers and their supervisors and support them in the investigation of crime.

“The force needs to focus more on protecting vulnerable people. It should have systems and processes in place that identify issues before they arise. The force has worked with Essex County Council to improve the sharing of information about children at risk of harm. It should also take steps to make sure it applies these processes, so no child is left at unnecessary risk of harm.”

He added: “Since our last inspection, the force has made significant changes within its contact management centre. Early indications are that these changes will allow the force to provide a better service to the public. The force is rightly continuing to focus on answering emergency and non-emergency telephone calls faster, and we hope that it maintains these improvements.

“While I congratulate the police officers and police staff of Essex Police for their efforts to keep the public safe, I will monitor progress in the areas where I feel the force needs to improve.”

The HMICFRS report found the force:

• Mostly carries out effective and timely investigations;
• Responds promptly to calls for service on most occasions;
• Has made a considerable investment to reduce the risk of domestic-related homicide;
• Works with partners to reduce the risk of fraud and support victims;
• Is using data to identify vulnerable locations, reducing crime and the fear of crime;
• Values neighbourhood policing assets and tries to keep them visible in communities;
• Engages with the community, showing that it understands, listens and responds to what matters to its communities;
• Utilises victims and their advocates to inform how it investigates serious sexual offences;
• Is continually improving processes for assessing risk and protecting victims of domestic abuse; and
• Effectively manages the risk posed by online child abuse offenders.

Mr Harrington said: “Ensuring that we look after our people so they can serve the people of Essex is essential. Equally ensuring the quality of the crime data to measure success and target resources is fundamental to reducing crime. So being assessed as ‘good’ in these two areas shows we are getting the foundations right.

“Essex Police remains unfairly funded in comparison with other forces and parts of the country so to be assessed as ‘adequate’ across the complex range of services we deliver is recognition of the immense work by our officers, staff and volunteers along with the strong partnerships we have across Essex. There are areas identified where we need to improve and, in every area, we want to get better. We are already working on these and this is acknowledged in the report.“

“We are innovating, using data, and working hard with partners to reduce crime.”

Mr Harrington added: “Essex is a safe place and crime and anti-social behaviour are down. The report has recognised that we are innovating, using data, and working hard with partners to reduce crime.

“This includes the use of hotspot policing to tackle violence and make people, particularly women and girls, feel safer.

“I am pleased it has also recognised our investment to reduce the risk of domestic-related homicides and our continual improvement in protecting victims of domestic abuse.

“It has rightly recognised that we effectively manage the risk posed to children online and our work with partners to reduce the risk of fraud and support victims.”

He continued: “We are the third lowest funded force in the country but still manage to put more officers responding, preventing, and investigating crime per pound of funding than any other.

“We’ve made £20 million in savings in the last two years and while the force’s finances will be an ongoing challenge in 2025, we’ve found so much in savings already.

“And all the while we’ve brought down crime with nearly 10,000 fewer offences in the last year and 22,000 fewer than five years ago, while anti-social behaviour continues to fall and is half the national average.

“In the last year my officers made 30,000 arrests and secured 13,000 charges.

“And the public recognises this hard work with around three quarters of people in Essex believing we do a good or excellent job.”

Mr Harrington also set out what the public will see this year and next which will deliver a better service: “We’re also investing in our Neighbourhood Policing Teams, expanding them to better deal with issues that matter to the public because we value our neighbourhoods.

“We know we need to answer the phone quicker and we’ve already introduced new ways of working in our control room, and it’s good the report recognised the improvements we have made in responding to the public since their last inspection.

“We have created a new victim portal so officers and staff can keep victims of crime updated more easily and hear their views so we can deliver a better service.

“We have improved our investigative skills training for new recruits which covers the initial recording of a crime right through to cases going to court.

“We will continue to listen to victims to provide the best outcomes and support.

“Deliver more crime prevention work – from device and online safety campaigns to deploying our LFR and new tech to keep our tourist resorts safe for locals and visitors this summer.

“Finally – hold on to our experienced people – do our best to keep the people we have as cost of living increases.”