Wiltshire Police: PEEL causes of concern revisit letter
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Letter information
From
Andy Cooke QPM DL
His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary
His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Fire & Rescue Services
To
Catherine Roper
Chief Constable
Wiltshire Police
Cc
Philip Wilkinson
Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner
Sent on
21 May 2024
Wiltshire Police: PEEL causes of concern – May 2024
Thank you for the thorough presentation and discussion at the Policing Performance Oversight Group last week. I said I would come back to you once I had discussed next steps with my Board.
I am pleased to let you know that I have decided to return Wiltshire Police to our default level of monitoring, known as ‘scan’. This decision is supported by the fact we have been able to close the force’s remaining causes of concern, which I cover in more detail below.
Background
Between 17 January and 11 February 2022, we inspected Wiltshire Police as part of our police efficiency, effectiveness and legitimacy (PEEL) programme. We identified three causes of concern, which were that the force:
- was failing to understand and promptly identify the vulnerability of victims at the first point of contact;
- did not protect vulnerable people from harm to an acceptable standard; and
- did not have adequate strategic plans in place.
On 24 June 2022, we decided to place the force into our enhanced level of monitoring, known as ‘engage’. This level of monitoring provides additional accountability and support to forces that are tackling enduring problems.
Responding to the public
During our inspection, we found that the force wasn’t identifying and assessing vulnerability effectively at the first point of contact. And we therefore issued the force with a cause of concern.
We made the following recommendations, in which we said that the force should:
- improve the process of risk assessing callers to identify those that are vulnerable or at risk;
- make sure that call handlers are skilled enough to identify vulnerability and warning signs of hidden vulnerability;
- make sure that repeat callers (and others in their household who may also be vulnerable) are routinely identified; and
- make sure that call takers give appropriate advice on preserving evidence and preventing crime.
In November 2022, we revisited the force to review progress and were able to close the first two recommendations.
Since that time, we have inspected the force again. We found that it is now significantly better at identifying repeat callers. It also gives advice on preserving evidence and preventing crime more regularly and effectively.
The force still has work to do in answering 101 and 999 calls promptly and attending incidents within agreed timescales. But it has made significant progress against the issues we identified in our last inspection.
As such, I am pleased with the improvement in Wiltshire Police’s response to the public. I am therefore able to close this cause of concern.
Protecting vulnerable people
During our inspection, we found that Wiltshire Police didn’t protect vulnerable people from harm to an acceptable standard.
We made the following recommendations, stating that Wiltshire Police should make sure that:
- officers carry out a risk assessment for every incident of domestic abuse, including verbal arguments, without delay;
- opportunities to take forward evidence-led prosecutions when a victim disengages or fails to support prosecutions are maximised;
- Domestic Violence Protection Orders are considered in all appropriate cases;
- multi-agency risk assessment conferences (MARAC) are focused on actions to reduce risk;
- opportunities to engage with and get feedback from victims are maximised and drive service improvement;
- analysis of police and partner data on offending against vulnerable people is improved and clearly drives police action; and
- domestic abuse, stalking, harassment risk assessments are effectively supervised, quality assured and checked for compliance.
Since that time, we have inspected the force again. We found that it had improved the safeguarding of victims, by;
- increasing the number of domestic abuse risk assessments;
- improving the quality of domestic abuse risk assessments;
- increasing the domestic abuse arrest rate and the number of protective orders issued; and
- improving the operation of MARACs by increasing the range of risk-reducing actions.
As such, I am pleased with the improvement in Wiltshire Police’s safeguarding of vulnerable people. I am therefore able to close this cause of concern.
Leadership and force management
During our inspection, we found that Wiltshire Police didn’t have adequate strategic plans in place. We made the following recommendations, stating that Wiltshire Police should:
- make sure that senior leaders have oversight of the force’s priorities and challenges;
- develop an effective force plan so it can deliver a service that meets the policing needs of the community, now and in the future; and
- develop and align departmental operational and strategic plans that are informed by accurate information.
Since that time, we have inspected the force again. We found that the force has revised its governance and performance structures after holding extensive face-to-face consultation with staff. It now has sufficient oversight of priorities and understands the challenges it faces. It also now has comprehensive force and departmental plans.
The force still needs to improve its access to and understanding of important data, such as data from partner organisations, to better understand the demand it faces. But I am pleased with the improvement in Wiltshire’s Police’s leadership and force management. I am therefore able to close this cause of concern.
Further monitoring
In conclusion, I am pleased that Wiltshire Police is continuing to make good progress. I am satisfied that it has addressed our concerns in relation to responding to the public, protecting vulnerable people, and leadership and force management.
The force still has work to do in relation to accessing data, answering 101 and 999 calls promptly, and attending incidents within agreed timescales. But it has made significant progress against the issues identified in our last inspection.
The force will therefore return to our standard monitoring process, known as ‘scan’. We will continue to inspect the force as part of our PEEL continual assessment programme.