Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP
Home Secretary
Home Office
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
13th September 2024
State of Policing: The Annual Assessment of Policing in England and Wales 2023
I am writing to you in response to His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) annual assessment of policing, published on the 19th July 2024. This State of Policing report is His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary (HMCI) Andy Cooke’s independent assessment of the efficiency and effectiveness of police forces in England and Wales.
The report made four recommendations for the Government across five key themes highlighted in the report;
- Restoring public trust and confidence;
- Providing a service to victims and the most vulnerable;
- Setting up the workforce for success;
- Funding the police; and
- The Inspectorate
As Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia, I welcome the opportunity to respond to the findings and offer an outline of actions already being taken locally.
Restoring public trust and confidence
One of the key issues highlighted by the inspectorate is the decline in public trust and confidence in policing driven by high profile incidents and inconsistent policing standards. Despite efforts to strengthen public trust the inspectorate noted that more needs to be done to communicate this to the public.
Locally, efforts are being made to improve transparency and accountability through increased community engagement and strengthening of vetting processes.
I commission a public perceptions and confidence survey alongside other engagement activity to ensure a representative picture of perceptions locally is understood and this supports my holding to account activity. The latest data shows that 81% of residents have confidence in West Mercia Police.
Enhancing police visibility and engagement is shown to be a key driver behind levels of trust and confidence. My budget for 24/25 made commitments to setting up town centre policing teams increasing the presence of officers in local areas and encouraging interaction with members of the public. This is intended to also have some impact on crime levels in these areas particularly shoplifting following the increase seen last year.
To ensure ongoing accountability, I hold quarterly meetings with the force to review professional standards, including complaints and conduct. This is complemented by my formal Assurance and Accountability processes, which includes reviewing responses to national inquiries, such as the Angiolini Inquiry, and ensuring that lessons are learned.
Provide a service to victims and the most vulnerable
The inspectorates report highlights gaps in the support provided to victims and vulnerable individuals due to inconsistencies in police response and follow- up care. We are addressing these concerns locally by enhancing our victim services, including the establishment of a Victims Hub to provide multi-crime comprehensive support.
West Mercia Police are currently being inspected as part of the PEEL process with considerable work undertaken to prepare, with a strong focus on improving the quality of interactions with victims.
Whilst recorded crime has seen a reduction an increase has been seen for positive outcomes for total recorded crime at the end of the previous financial year, reflecting our focus on delivering justice more effectively.
A key barrier to achieving timely justice is the current court backlog resulting in unacceptable delays for victims nationally, whilst it remains a priority locally some of the solutions are not within the control of the local system and requires support and investment from Government.
I remain committed to delivering a high standard of service to the most vulnerable members of our community and will continue to push for improvements in victim care across the board.
Setting up the workforce for success
The report identifies challenges around workforce fatigue, recruitment and retention challenges which hinders the forces ability to fully meet increasing demands. To address this the force are focussing on wellbeing initiatives such as mental health support to retain officers and ensure job satisfaction.
The Police Uplift programme has successfully increased officer numbers, up to 2525 in West Mercia. Activity is now underway to bolster PCSO numbers recognising the important role they play in community engagement and crime prevention.
This work extends to ensuring that police buildings and facilities are fit for purpose. This includes upgrades to infrastructure, improving working conditions and providing officers with the right tools and spaces to perform their duties effectively. A well-maintained and properly resourced estate improves the operational efficiency to meet the needs of communities in West Mercia.
Funding the police
Adequate funding is a foundational issue identified by HMICFRS. Whilst recent recruitment through the Uplift programme has strengthened numbers, it is clear that more sustained funding is needed. Increased demand from complex crimes like cybercrime, fraud and serious violence place a growing strain on resources. Locally, we make best use of our resources but continued financial support from the government is essential to maintain and build on recent improvements.
I must also express significant concerns regarding the ongoing in-year financial pressures facing police forces, particularly the impact of unfunded pay rises. Whilst I fully support appropriate compensation for officers, the lack of funding to cover these increases places an additional strain on already tight budgets. This results in difficult decisions regarding resource allocation, potentially affecting service delivery and long-term planning. Without sufficient government support to offset these costs, it becomes increasingly challenging to maintain both frontline services and critical investments.
Locally, the police force is understanding how Artificial Intelligence can be used to support policing activity making more efficient use of police time. However, further investment in technology is needed to ensure that we can fully leverage advanced tools to enhance policing effectiveness.
Summary
HMICFRS plays a crucial role in holding police forces to account and ensuring improvements across the board. The Inspectorate’s independent scrutiny is vital in driving forward change, and its findings guide our local strategy. We remain committed to working in partnership with HMICFRS to ensure that West Mercia Police continues to improve its performance, delivering the high standards expected by our communities.
John Campion
Police and Crime Commissioner
West Mercia
cc West Mercia Police Chief Constable
