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Proposed policing inspection programme and framework 2025–29: For consultation

We would like your views on whether this programme covers the the right themes and areas of policing.

Cumbria PEEL 2018

Effectiveness

How effectively does the force reduce crime and keep people safe?

Last updated 01/05/2019
Good

Cumbria Constabulary is good at reducing crime and keeping people safe.

It is good at protecting vulnerable people. This is a strategic priority. Officers and staff understand the importance of protecting vulnerable people.

Specialist safeguarding officers work in the control room. They advise and guide officers dealing with incidents. This means call takers and officers make better quality risk assessments. The constabulary can take the right safeguarding measures at the earliest opportunity.

A 24-hour mental health helpline assists officers and staff in supporting people with mental health problems.

Officers can recognise less obvious signs that a person may be vulnerable.

They know how to protect those at risk from modern slavery and human trafficking.

Officers use body-worn video cameras to record evidence at domestic abuse incidents. The constabulary uses arrest, charge and bail to reduce risk of further harm.

Dedicated officers and staff manage dangerous and sex offenders. They visit them regularly and use court orders to control their behaviour.

In 2016 we judged the constabulary as being good at preventing crime and tackling anti-social behaviour. In 2017 we judged the constabulary to be good at investigating crime and tackling serious and organised crime.

Questions for Effectiveness

3

How effective is the force at protecting those who are vulnerable from harm, and supporting victims?

Good

Cumbria Constabulary has got better at looking after vulnerable people since 2017. It understands vulnerability well. The workforce know that protecting vulnerable people is very important.

The constabulary responds to incidents quickly enough to keep vulnerable people safe.

It has improved the way it gets information about vulnerable people.

The constabulary is using the law well to support victims. It exchanges information with police forces and authorities in other regions to protect vulnerable people.

It starts managing dangerous people soon after arrest. It is increasing the number of staff who do this.

Cumbria Constabulary is good at protecting vulnerable people.

Detailed findings for question 3

5

How effective are the force’s specialist capabilities?

Ungraded

We have previously inspected how well forces provide armed policing. This formed part of our 2016 and 2017 effectiveness inspections. Subsequent terrorist attacks in the UK and Europe have meant that the police service maintains a focus on armed capability in England and Wales.

It is not just terrorist attacks that place operational demands on armed officers. The threat can include the activity of organised crime groups or armed street gangs and all other crime involving guns. The Code of Practice on the Police Use of Firearms and Less Lethal Weapons (PDF document) makes forces responsible for implementing national standards of armed policing. The code stipulates that a chief officer be designated to oversee these standards. This requires the chief officer to set out the firearms threat in an armed policing strategic threat and risk assessment (APSTRA). The chief officer must also set out clear rationales for the number of armed officers (armed capacity) and the level to which they are trained (armed capability).

Detailed findings for question 5