Humberside Police graded as GOOD by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate

Humberside Police has been awarded an overall grading of ‘GOOD’ by HMICFRS as well as achieving a GOOD grading across every pillar of the annual inspection process.

This inspection report is a comprehensive assessment of how the force is performing across a wide range of areas, including how we:

• Protect vulnerable people
• Investigate crime
• Prevent crime and tackle anti-social behaviour
• Tackle serious and organised crime

The report also assesses how efficiently the force uses its finances and resources and how sustainable these are in the future.  The inspection also assesses how the force treats its staff and how the services it provides to the public is improving.

Chief Constable Lee Freeman welcomed the report,

“I am really pleased with the report and the assessment from HMICFRS and whilst we know we still have much more to do, a grading of GOOD right across the board for Humberside Police is a significant milestone and a giant step in the right direction.

“When I took over as Chief in June 2017, I said that it was actions and not words that the public and my staff needed to see. I believed I had staff and officers who were professional and committed and recall saying that they were absolutely not the inhibiting factor to the force improving. I believe the turnaround we’ve achieved shows that this is the case and it is our staff who have delivered these results.

“I wish to record my thanks to all my staff for their support and hard work over the last 20 months, as it is them, along with the 492 new officers that have joined us in the last two years, who have delivered these improvements.

“I also want to acknowledge the key role that our partners play in keeping people safe. With the force going back to its roots with locally based policing teams across East Riding, Hull, North and North East Lincolnshire, ensuring that our relationships with all four local authorities have been excellent.

“When I became Chief, I said I wanted my officers and staff to feel proud to work at Humberside Police – and I think this is starting to happen. Reports like this help.

“But we also have to remember we’re not finished yet – there’s always more to do and the financial environment remains challenging.  We have savings to make, criminals are adapting to new technology and the public rightly expects us to adapt too.

“Therefore, this report is only a start.  We are determined that the force will continue to improve and aim to be outstanding in the future. I have always been very clear that this ambition was realistic and today’s report demonstrates what can be achieved in a relatively short time.

“I’m particularly pleased to see that the HMICFRS has positively acknowledged our work to improve the way that we deal with those people who are vulnerable.  Protecting vulnerable people is a real priority for us and so many of the calls we get now involve people who are vulnerable –such as the very young or elderly, those who have mental health challenges, or those who simply find themselves in a position where they cannot protect themselves from harm.  HMICFRS have recognised significant improvements in our service across all of these areas, including how we tackle domestic abuse and other crimes such as child sexual or criminal exploitation, how we respond to human trafficking and online crime as well as how we deal with the everyday calls we receive such as missing persons.

“HMIC Inspectors have also recognised the work we have done to improve how we investigate crime,  reforming our CID teams across the force and ensuring that the investigative training we provide our staff is of a high standard, has undoubtedly made a difference.

“I am also particularly pleased to see our Force Control Room being praised in this report. It is now answering more calls, more quickly, than ever before, with Humberside Police the first force in the country to offer a call back service for our non-emergency 101 service so that people don’t have to wait on the line during busy periods.

“HMICFRS have also specifically mentioned the culture of continuous improvement that we’ve been developing. I have been very clear that managers and leaders in Humberside Police are there to support and listen to their staff, as well as the public, and we have seen encouraging and sustained  improvements in levels of staff morale, wellbeing and sickness absence.

“I also want to thank both the Police and Crime Commissioner Keith Hunter, as well as the public, for the recently approved increases in the local precept.This will ensure that the extra officer numbers we have achieved will be maintained in the future. I hope this report reassures the public that the force is now on the right track.

To read the report follow the link to the HMIC website: [HERE]