WEST Mercia Police has missed out on an Outstanding rating after His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) published its findings from a PEEL (Police Effectiveness, Efficiency and Legitimacy) Inspection.
The report follows an inspection of the force in 2024 and identifies areas of good work and progress on challenges, whilst also highlighting where further improvement is needed.
The report’s gradings found West Mercia Police to be ‘good’ in recording date about crimes, ‘adequate’ in police powers and public treatments, preventing and investigating crime, and managing offenders.
The force was rated ‘requiring improvement’ in responding to the public, protecting vulnerable people, developing a positive workspace and leadership and force management.
Andy Cooke, HM Inspector of Constabulary, said although the force had made some improvements since its last inspection, he was disappointed the force did not always understand what support victims needed and were entitled to receive.
He said: “The force still isn’t answering emergency calls as quickly as it should. But it is improving.
“The number of non-emergency calls members of the public abandon because they aren’t answered is still high.
“This is something we found in our previous inspection in 2021/22.
“We also found that officers didn’t attend calls for service within the required attendance time.
“The force must improve in these areas to maintain victims’ confidence and maximise opportunities to solve crime.”
The report outlined areas where the force must do better, such as how they identified vulnerable victims and challenges faced by its IT systems, which had required significant modernisation.
The report recognised neighbourhood policing teams were well resourced and were actively engaging with communities to resolve local issues, investigative standards have improved and that hot spot patrols had reduced serious crime by 18 per cent.
The force’s dedicated online child sexual exploitation team (OCSET) was praised for its effective use of civil orders and strong partnership working to protect children, as was the processes in place for external scrutiny of the use of our stop and search powers.
Chief Constable Richard Cooper said: “We recognise the importance of independent assessments like PEEL and are using this report as one tool to guide our next steps and drive continued improvement for the communities we serve, and for our officers, staff and volunteers.
“We acknowledge the findings and are already acting on them.
“The inspection highlights both the progress we’ve made and the challenges we are addressing head-on.
“The results are not where we want to be, and I am clear that they must and will improve.
“As set out in the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Safer Communities Plan, we remain focused on the issues that matter most to our communities, which is providing a service that is responsive, fair and trusted.”
Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion added: “I know the public have high expectations, so it’s important we use the findings as a platform to drive further change.
“Together, with the new Chief Constable, action is already taking place to address concerns and it’s my expectation this progress continues at pace.
“West Mercia Police is full of hardworking police officers and staff who are on the thin blue line keeping communities safe – it’s on the Chief Constable and I to set them up to succeed.
“I will continue to work with and support the Chief Constable to deliver my Safer Communities Plan, by directing the resources needed to deliver the best possible service to the communities of West Mercia.”
Visit hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/ to view the report.
