Devon and Cornwall Police gets another bad report

Three out of three areas 'require improvement'

Devon and Cornwall Police has received another underwhelming report from independent inspectors.

It's been told it 'requires improvement' in all three areas examined most recently by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary.

They looked at how Devon and Cornwall's force vets police officers and staff, its professional standards and its counter-corruption arrangements.

As part of its integrity inspection programme, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) assessed the effectiveness of Devon and Cornwall Police in three areas. The constabulary was graded ‘requires improvement’ in its vetting of police officers and staff, professional standards and counter-corruption arrangements.

His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary, Kathryn Stone said: "The work of force vetting units, professional standards departments and counter-corruption units has never been more vital, with increased demand and focus on their activities.

"When police officers or staff are found to be involved in misconduct, it reduces public trust and confidence in the police service. We must make sure that the right people join the police service and those working to keep our communities safe can be trusted to do so.
“It was disappointing to find that Devon and Cornwall Police requires improvement in all areas of our inspection. The force needs to implement an effective quality assurance process to review vetting decisions. And it should improve the way it manages and manages complaints and conduct matters, including the time it takes to respond to public complaints.

“It was positive to find that the force proactively looks for corruption-related intelligence. And in relation to its professional standards, it also has an established process for sharing some relevant adverse information between departments.

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

Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly,Alison Hernandez, agrees that the findings are disappointing, but says she isn't surprised.
   
She continued: “I have previously placed on record my own disappointment with the police’s performance in a number of the areas highlighted by HMICFRS and have already put in place a number of measures to address them. 
   
“These measures include my authorisation of an extra £500,000 in the police’s budget to deal with complaints made by the public, and by putting in place stronger scrutiny and oversight processes. 
   
“This enhanced scrutiny has included me taking a ‘deep-dive’ into the performance of the Professional Standards Department through my new Accountability Board, and the creation of a new Police Conduct Oversight Board, which provides me with oversight of police misconduct cases and public complaints. 
   
“Through this oversight work, it is clear to me that under the leadership of Chief Constable James Vaughan performance has – and continues to – improve in nearly all areas. However, there is clearly still much work to do, and I am grateful to His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary for the work that they continue to do in ensuring that these matters – critical for public confidence – remain in the spotlight.”