Thames Valley Police needs to improve integrity arrangements, says inspectorate

As part of its integrity inspection programme, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) assessed the effectiveness of Thames Valley Police in three areas: vetting, professional standards and counter-corruption.

The force was graded as ‘adequate’ for vetting police officers and staff, ‘requires improvement’ for upholding the standards of professional behaviour and ‘requires improvement’ for tackling potential corruption.

HMICFRS found that the force had invested in its vetting arrangements and makes sure it has enough well-trained staff to carry out its vetting responsibilities.

It also uses a variety of methods to reinforce organisational learning and the standards of professional behaviour, and has provided additional resources to its professional standards department.

In addition, the force has strong working relationships with external agencies that support people who may be at risk of abuse by police personnel.

However, HMICFRS said there were several areas the force needs to improve. This includes:

• Making sure that everyone it employs has the correct vetting clearance and completes all relevant checks before having access to police premises or systems;
• How it handles and manages complaints and conduct allegations, such as making sure decisions are made by personnel with sufficient seniority and in accordance with relevant legislation and guidance; and
• How it monitors its IT systems so that the counter-corruption unit maintains an accurate record of every individual authorised to use encrypted apps on work devices.

His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary, Roy Wilsher said: “A force’s integrity arrangements – vetting, professional standards and counter-corruption teams – are essential to making sure the right people join and remain in the police service.

“It was positive to find that Thames Valley Police has invested in its vetting arrangements, with well-documented decisions and robust rationale, and has strengthened its professional standards department.

“However, improvements are needed. The force must make sure everyone it employs has the correct vetting clearance before accessing police premises or systems. It also needs to improve how it handles complaints and conduct allegations, including decision-making by individuals with sufficient seniority.

“The force should also improve how it monitors IT systems, particularly maintaining accurate records of staff authorised to use encrypted apps on work devices.

“We will continue to monitor the force’s progress.”

Thames Valley Police said it recognised that its integrity was “fundamental to the public’s trust and confidence in policing, and to our legitimacy to serve our communities”.

“Over recent years, we have invested significant resources – money, technology and some of our best people into our Professional Standards Department, Counter Corruption Unit, and Vetting.

“We are pleased that the recent report from HMICFRS acknowledges the significant progress we have made in maintaining the highest possible standards in Thames Valley Police. The areas for improvement highlighted are also invaluable in our focus on continual improvement and being an excellent police force trusted by all our communities.”

Deputy Chief Constable Ben Snuggs said the force remains “unequivocal in our commitment to continual improvement”.

“Maintaining the integrity of our workforce, and the trust and confidence of our communities in Thames Valley Police, is at our core,” he said.

“Public trust in policing relies on officers and staff demonstrating the highest standards of professional behaviour every single day. Whilst the vast majority dedicate their careers to serving and protecting the public, and do so to a very high standard, some do not, and the force has a strong track record of appropriate misconduct sanctions in those cases.”

Mr Snuggs said the force had been “proactive in taking decisive action” since the last inspection, namely:

• Meeting vetting service level agreements;
• Improved training monitoring;
• Improve monitoring of IT system use;
• Increased investigative resources;
• Reduced investigation turnaround times;
• Improved record keeping; and
• Rewritten internal guidance and reduced outstanding reviews.

He added: “I am pleased that the inspection reflects many of the positive changes we have made, including our increase in staffing to manage vetting demand, the swift logging of public complaints, our transparency and accountability through misconduct processes, as well as much of our approach to tackling the risk of corruption.

“We also now have an independent assessment of where we need to go further, and the force will use the report to focus on the continual improvement our communities expect to see.”