West Midlands Police: return to default phase of monitoring
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Letter information
From
Lee Freeman KPM
His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary
His Majesty’s Inspector of Fire & Rescue Services
To
Craig Guildford
Chief Constable
West Midlands Police
Cc
Simon Foster
Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner
Sent on
18 September 2024
West Midlands Police: return to default phase of monitoring
Thank you for the thorough presentation and discussion at the Policing Performance Oversight Group on Tuesday 17 September.
I am pleased to let you know that His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, Andy Cooke, has decided to return West Midlands Police to our default phase of monitoring, which is known as Scan. This decision is supported by the fact we have been able to close three recommendations that form part of the remaining cause of concern, which I cover in more detail below.
Background
In September 2023, we inspected West Midlands Police as part of our police efficiency, effectiveness and legitimacy (PEEL) programme. During our inspection, we identified the following four causes of concern:
- The force needs to make sure that its multi-agency risk assessment conferences (MARACs) work effectively to keep vulnerable people safe.
- The force doesn’t manage the risk posed to the public by registered sex offenders effectively.
- The force doesn’t manage the risk posed by online child abuse offenders effectively.
- The force needs to make sure it carries out effective investigations which lead to satisfactory results for victims.
On 24 November 2023, we moved West Midlands Police to the Engage phase of our monitoring process. In this phase, we provide additional accountability and support to forces when there are causes of concern about their efficiency, effectiveness or legitimacy that appear to need closer scrutiny.
In May and June 2024, we revisited the force to scrutinise the progress made against three of these causes of concern. We closed these three causes of concern, as we identified sustained improvements in the force’s performance.
But there was one remaining cause of concern, which related to how well the force carries out effective investigations that lead to satisfactory results for victims. In September 2024, we reinspected the force to assess progress against the five recommendations associated with this remaining cause of concern.
The force needs to make sure it carries out effective investigations which lead to satisfactory results for victims
In our 2023 PEEL inspection, we issued a cause of concern to the force: it needs to make sure it carries out effective investigations which lead to satisfactory results for victims.
We made the following associated recommendations:
Within six months, West Midlands Police should:
- make sure staff and officers have sufficient skills and capabilities to carry out high-quality investigations;
- make sure it carries out proportionate, thorough and timely investigations into reported crimes, which are supervised effectively;
- make sure investigation plans are created where applicable and that all investigative opportunities are taken;
- make sure it consistently achieves appropriate outcomes for victims; and
- make sure it is using outcomes appropriately, in a way that complies with force and national policies, leading to satisfactory results for victims.
On 17 September 2024, we closed three of these five recommendations. We found that the force had significantly improved in three areas. But the force needed to make more progress against our remaining two recommendations.
Progress against our recommendations
The force should make sure staff and officers have sufficient skills and capabilities to carry out high-quality investigations
We found that the force has set clear aims, objectives and expected standards for officers and staff who carry out investigations. The force is investing considerable effort into training officers and staff who investigate crimes. And it is making sure that it appropriately allocates its investigations to officers and staff with the right skills.
We found that the workloads of officers and staff were generally manageable, although this wasn’t always the case. And the force does still have some shortages of trained investigators. The force should continue to address these areas. We did note the force had well-developed plans to meet its shortage of trained investigators.
We will close this recommendation.
The force should make sure it carries out proportionate, thorough and timely investigations into reported crimes, which are supervised effectively
We found that the force has improved how it investigates crimes. The force is focusing on the prompt arrest of suspects and it effectively uses performance data, quality assurance testing and decision-making prompts for officers and staff. This makes sure investigations are timely and that supervisory reviews always take place.
The force recognises that the quality of some investigations is inconsistent. But it continues to address this by using supervisory improvement plans.
We will close this recommendation.
The force should make sure investigation plans are created where applicable and that all investigative opportunities are taken
As part of our auditing and reinspection activity, we identified that the force is completing investigation plans more consistently. Officers and staff are following and regularly updating these plans. The force is using additional training, performance meetings, quality assurance testing, decision-making prompts and data from its investigations dashboard to make sure investigation plans are in place and that it takes all investigative opportunities.
We will close this recommendation.
The force should make sure it consistently achieves appropriate outcomes for victims
The force has made some improvements in achieving appropriate outcomes for victims. But the number of crimes that the force assigns a positive outcome following investigations remains low. In the year ending 31 March 2024, the force had an ‘offences bought to justice’ outcome rate of 5.5 percent. This is an improvement from 4.5 percent for the year ending 31 March 2023, but it is still low. The force told us that there has been continued improvements in the number of positive outcomes since this period.
This recommendation will remain open, and we will assess the force’s progress as part of our continuous assessment approach.
The force should make sure it is using outcomes appropriately, in a way that complies with force and national policies, leading to satisfactory results for victims
As part of our auditing and reinspection activity, we identified that the force has made some improvements in its use of appropriate outcomes. But it needs to make sure that it always records outcomes correctly. This will allow the force to identify areas where it can improve outcomes, and it can then address any reasons for underperformance.
The force also needs to have a better understanding of why victims withdraw their support from investigations. During our revisit, we learned that the force has mainly focused its improvement efforts on:
- its investigation standards;
- how it supervises investigations; and
- initial contact with victims (including how often it updates victims on the status of an investigation).
But the force recognises it needs to do more to consult victims, obtain their views and make sure it applies appropriate outcomes to crimes. The force is working to address these areas.
This recommendation will remain open, and we will assess the force’s progress as part of our continuous assessment approach.
Progress against the cause of concern
I am pleased with the improvements the force has made to make sure it carries out effective investigations which lead to satisfactory results for victims. But the force still needs to make more progress before we can close this cause of concern.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I am pleased that West Midlands Police is continuing to make good progress. I am satisfied that it has made enough progress to address some concerns in respect of how well it investigates crime.
The force still has work to do to achieve appropriate outcomes for victims, use outcomes appropriately and better understand why victims withdraw their support for investigations. But its continued focus on increasing the number of trained investigators and improving the quality of its investigations and supervision will support this. I am reassured by the plans that the force has put in place to continue making these improvements.
The force has returned to Scan, our default phase of monitoring, with immediate effect. I have copied this letter to the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster.
We will continue to monitor the force’s progress as part of our PEEL programme.