Policing in the pandemic - The police response to the coronavirus pandemic during 2020

Published on: 20 April 2021

Publication types: COVID-19

Police Forces: All local forces in England and Wales

Summary

In July, we announced our intention to inspect the police response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our inspection took a snapshot of policing and assessed what happened from March to November 2020.

We consulted many interested parties about the aspects of policing that our inspection should cover.

Our inspection focused on:

  • preparation for the pandemic;
  • overall leadership;
  • working with other organisations;
  • policing – workforce wellbeing, protecting people who are vulnerable, requests for service, investigating crime, enforcing coronavirus legislation (the Four Es approach – engage, explain, encourage, enforce); and
  • arrangements for keeping people in custody.

This report sets out our findings.

Get the report

Policing in the pandemic – The police response to the coronavirus pandemic during 2020 (HTML) Policing in the pandemic – The police response to the coronavirus pandemic during 2020 (PDF document)

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Police generally responded well to exceptional circumstances of pandemic

Get the police and crime commissioners' responses to the report

Devon and Cornwall PCC’s response

Dyfed-Powys PCC’s response

Gwent PCC’s response (PDF document)

Nottinghamshire PCC’s response (PDF document)

Suffolk PCC’s response

Surrey PCC’s response

West Yorkshire PCC’s response

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