Hertfordshire Constabulary has improved child protection, but more work is needed
Hertfordshire Constabulary has improved the way it protects vulnerable children, but further changes are needed to help keep them safe, a new report has found.
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Hertfordshire – National child protection inspection post-inspection review
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) found that since its last inspection of Hertfordshire Constabulary’s child protection services in 2019, the force had worked to address its recommendations.
The inspectorate said there are more, better-trained staff, and the unit responsible for managing registered sex offenders is now effective.
However, HMICFRS said that despite Hertfordshire Constabulary’s good progress, several areas still require improvement, including:
- staff are not consistently recording children’s concerns, behaviour and demeanour when they attend an incident;
- not all referrals for children at risk are made promptly; and
- designated officers are still not taking full responsibility for children taken into police protection.
Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary Roy Wilsher said:
“Hertfordshire Constabulary has acted decisively to address the recommendations
from our 2019 inspection, and the force can show marked improvements in some
areas as a result.“However, the force still needs to improve in other areas. For example, delays in
making referrals and asking for information from other organisations can mean that
opportunities to intervene earlier to safeguard children may be missed.“We are encouraged by the progress Hertfordshire Constabulary has already made,
and I have confidence in the force’s continued commitment to making further
improvements.”
Get the report
Hertfordshire – National child protection inspection post-inspection review
Notes
- For further information, the HMICFRS Press Office can be contacted at 07836 217 729 or HMICPressOffice@hmicfrs.gov.uk.