Our work
HMICFRS visits police forces, fire & rescue services, and other organisations in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and further afield, carrying out inspections or reviews. We also look at critical national issues and themes, across the police service or fire & rescue services.
In this section you can browse by category or subject to find out more about our work. If you are looking for a particular report, or for information and reports on your local police force or fire & rescue service, use the search function on the publications page, and filter your results.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for please email contacthmicfrs@hmicfrs.gov.uk (e-mail address) with your request and we will help.
Policing on the beat
Frontline officers and staff police in the heart of the community. They tackle anti-social behaviour, carry out stops and searches and record crimes. HMICFRS inspects frontline responses to, and prevention of, crime.
Protecting people from violence and abuse
Protecting children and vulnerable people is one of the most important tasks the police undertake. HMICFRS inspects police forces’ response to domestic abuse and violence, as well as how forces are protecting children.
Protecting people online
More and more crime is being perpetrated online. These crimes range from fraud and identity theft to child sexual exploitation. HMICFRS inspects police forces’ preparedness to deal with these crimes.
Police ethics and accountability
Policing by consent requires the police service to act ethically and be accountable to the public it serves. HMICFRS inspects police ethics and accountability, including the actions of undercover police officers.
Victims and resolutions
The police service is just one element of the wider criminal justice system. HMICFRS works with other inspectorates in order to provide a fuller picture of victims’ journeys through the criminal justice system.
Large-scale policing
Large-scale policing involves protecting people from terrorism and public disorder on a national scale. HMICFRS inspects police forces’ preparedness for large-scale and national incidents.
Behind the frontline
Frontline policing needs to be supported by strong governance, robust processes and procedures. HMICFRS inspects a range of functions including finance, force communications and performance, and use of resources.
International and specialist agencies
HMICFRS inspects international police forces and specialist law enforcement agencies. These range from police forces of Commonwealth countries to the National Crime Agency and HM Revenue and Customs.
Specific reviews
Police and crime commissioners and the Home Secretary can commission HMICFRS inspections. Commissions tend to focus on reviews of police responses to specific incidents or reviews of local policing arrangements.
Police engagement with women and girls
We inspect how how effectively the police respond to crimes against women and girls. These are violent and high-harm crimes that disproportionally affect women and girls, such as domestic abuse, sexual violence, stalking, and female genital mutilation.