State of Policing: The Annual Assessment of Policing in England and Wales 2021

Summary

This is Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary’s report to the Secretary of State under section 54(4A) of the Police Act 1996. It contains his assessment of the effectiveness and  efficiency of policing in England and Wales based on the inspections we carried out between April and November 2021.

This report draws on findings from inspections of police forces in England and Wales, to provide an overall view of the state of policing.

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Single page standard format

This is the best format to use if you want to read this on a small screen or print the report and read it.

State of Policing: The Annual Assessment of Policing in England and Wales 2021 (PDF document)

Double page format

This format is best if you’re viewing the report on a larger screen, because it’s easier to read the graphics and tables which are spread over two pages.

State of Policing: The Annual Assessment of Policing in England and Wales 2021 (PDF document)

Large font format

This format has larger text and a simpler layout than the standard format. It has text and lists instead of graphics and tables.

State of Policing: The Annual Assessment of Policing in England and Wales 2021 – Large font version (PDF document)

Report chapters

We have broken the report down into chapters below, so the files are smaller and quicker for you to download.

Foreword

This section contains the background and reason for the report. It highlights unique considerations for this year’s report and explains how the report was compiled and created.

State of Policing – Foreword – online version (HTML)

State of Policing – Foreword (PDF document)

Part 1: Overview

This section contains Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary’s assessment of the state of policing in England and Wales. It draws on the inspections we carried out between April and November 2021, as well as the findings and reports of other organisations, and other information and analysis available to him.

State of Policing – Part 1: Overview – online version (HTML)

State of Policing – Part 1: Overview (PDF document)

Part 2: Our inspections

This part gives an overview of the findings of the inspections we carried out between April and November 2021, including a summary of our police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy (PEEL) inspections.

State of Policing – Part 2: Our inspections (PDF document)

Part 3: Our reports

This sets out the full list of our inspections and other work. The results of our individual inspections enable an assessment of the performance of individual forces, or a more general assessment of performance in specific aspects of policing.

State of Policing – Part 3: Our reports (PDF document)

Annexes

State of Policing – Annexes (PDF document)

Get the press release

Policing has come a long way but major problems persist, says outgoing Chief Inspector of Constabulary