Cumbria Constabulary congratulated for good performance
Cumbria Constabulary supports its workforce well and is effective at keeping people safe and reducing crime, the police inspectorate has said.
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PEEL 2023–2025: An inspection of Cumbria Constabulary
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) graded Cumbria Constabulary’s performance across nine areas of policing found that the constabulary was outstanding in one area, good in six areas and adequate in two areas.
HMICFRS said the constabulary was outstanding at building, supporting and protecting its workforce. Inspectors found that it prioritises officer and staff well-being and provides a supportive environment that helps new recruits to develop and stay with the force.
The inspectorate said that Cumbria Constabulary also works effectively with partner organisations to reduce violence against women and girls, and to keep vulnerable people safe. For example, it runs a partnership project that provides support and safeguarding for people who are vulnerable to county lines exploitation.
Inspectors also found that there had been improvements in the management and scrutiny of criminal investigations, but the constabulary could do more to achieve better outcomes for victims. It also needs to strengthen the external scrutiny of its use of force and stop and search powers.
His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary Lee Freeman said:
“I congratulate Cumbria Constabulary on its performance in keeping people safe and reducing crime. I was pleased to find improvements in the management and scrutiny of criminal investigations and to see the constabulary works well with partner organisations, charities and communities to solve local problems and to prevent crime and antisocial behaviour. However, more could be done to achieve even better outcomes for victims.
“The communicative and highly visible approach taken by the constabulary’s new leadership has been well received. Leaders have made considered changes and investments to make sure the constabulary has the right resources to meet its demand. They have continued to improve the services the constabulary provides to the public of Cumbria.
“While there remains room for further improvements, the progress we have seen during our inspection will provide a good foundation on which to build.”
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PEEL 2023–2025: An inspection of Cumbria Constabulary
Notes to editors:
- For further information, please contact the HMICFRS Press Office on 0300 071 6781 or HMICPressOffice@hmicfrs.gov.uk.
- In 2014, we introduced our police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy (PEEL) inspections, which assess the performance of all 43 police forces in England and Wales. Since then, we have been continuously adapting our approach.
- We have continued our intelligence-led, continual assessment approach, rather than the annual PEEL inspections we used in previous years.
- We have also changed our approach to graded judgments. We now assess forces against the characteristics of good performance, and we more clearly link our judgments to causes of concern and areas for improvement.
- It isn’t possible to make direct comparisons between the grades awarded in this PEEL inspection and those from the previous cycle of PEEL inspections. This is because we have increased our focus on making sure forces are achieving appropriate outcomes for the public, and in some cases we have changed the aspects of policing we inspect.
- Read more information about the new PEEL assessment framework 2023-2025.