Report grades Thames Valley Police’s performance positively

Across nine measured areas the force was good or adequate in seven

Thames Valley Police treats the public with fairness and respect, and is good at managing offenders and suspects – that according to a report issued today by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

The report graded the force across nine areas.   Three of those were noted as ‘Good’, four ‘Adequate’ and two ‘Requires Improvement’.   None of the force’s work was graded as ‘Inadequate’.

Thames Valley Police received a thumbs up for how it recorded data about crime, its treatment of the public and how it managed offenders.

The report also highlighted a number of other strengths including:

• An improvement to the time it takes to answer emergency and non-emergency calls;
• An innovative approach to reducing re-offending and changing behaviour with the Violence Reduction Unit;
• Positive work to recruit and retain more officers from an ethnically diverse backgrounds;
• An ethical and inclusive culture, where our people are proud to work, and have a shared sense of belonging throughout the organisation;
• The force’s positive approach to working with partner agencies.

The report graded Thames Valley Police as ‘Adequate’ in the areas of preventing and investigating crime, protecting vulnerable people and developing a positive workplace.   This means the expected standards are being met.

However it found that improvement was needed in relation to responding to the public, organisational management and value for money.

Deputy Chief Constable Jason Hogg of Thames Valley Police said: “We thank HMICFRS for its feedback, which it’s important to consider in context with two key factors; a change to the grading system and the unprecedented policing landscape in which we have been operating throughout the pandemic.

“At the time of this inspection, Thames Valley Police had been operating during the pandemic for over a year, going on to respond to nearly 65,000 Covid-related incidents in an 18-month period.

“Despite all of these challenges, no areas of Thames Valley Police were considered ‘Inadequate,’ and I am immensely proud of our officers and staff for their tireless work in protecting the public, which has kept our communities safe during these extraordinary times.

“However, to continue to deliver an effective and efficient policing service, we must strive to continually improve in all areas across the force. The findings of this PEEL report enable us to do this, together with learnings taken from national issues that rightly challenge us to reflect on how we best service our communities within the Thames Valley.”

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Published: 28/04/2022 10:27am by Banbury FM Newsteam

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