Police Commissioner responds to mixed performance report
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire Rescue Services (HMICFRS) issued a PEEL report (on police effectiveness, efficacy and legitimacy) to Sussex Police last week which mixes praise and criticism for their performance levels.
The report highlights areas in which Sussex Police were assessed to be performing well, including preventing crime and anti-social behaviour using innovative practices and data; effective working with partners to build public confidence; and their focus on reducing serious youth violence.
The Force were also praised for their treatment of the public, including efforts to engage with hard-to-reach groups; providing a visible presence in local communities; and their response to external scrutiny of stop and search powers.
Crime unrecorded
However, the report also identifies areas where change and improvement are “much needed”, especially in supporting people who are vulnerable. These areas involve investigating crime; recording data about crime; and responding to the public via both emergency and non-emergency calls. Incidents of violent crime, including complaints of harassment, stalking, rape, domestic abuse and anti-social behaviour, were not always recorded, let alone actioned.
Katy Bourne, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner, said she valued the HMICFRS report as “an objective and external view of the performance of Sussex Police…vital in supporting my work to thoroughly scrutinise and robustly challenge the force’s performance overall”.
She said that the report follows an inspection undertaken over six months previously, and claimed that “extensive work” was “already under way to bring about improvements – I am reassured that the inadequate areas are already being addressed”.
She was pleased, on the other hand, at the report’s recognition of the success of Neighbourhood Policing Teams “which, as I know from my discussions with the public, are so valued by residents”.
New recruits
Earlier this month Sussex Police held what it called a “record-breaking” attestation ceremony at the East Sussex National Hotel in Uckfield, as the “largest-ever cohort” of 107 new police constables and detective constables were sworn into the force, pledging to serve “with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality”.
According to PCC Bourne, this influx marked the fulfilment of her promise made in 2018 to recruit an extra 250 officers – paid for by the residents of Sussex via increases in their local tax precept. It means that the force will have 3,096 police officers for the coming year, more than they had in 2012 when she was first elected to office.
“Those who have been sworn in today in front of families and loved ones will be expected to serve the public without fear or favour and uphold the finest traditions of British policing”, she said. “It is reassuring for Sussex residents that so many individuals have decided to take this oath of service and make policing their career of choice.”
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