Response by the Police and Crime Commissioner to HMIC Inspections of Hampshire Constabulary Inspection Details
Title of Inspection: PEEL Efficiency Report 2016 – Hampshire Constabulary Date Inspection Published: 3 November 2016 Deadline for Response: 1 December 2016 Type of Inspection: Hampshire Constabulary Specific
Thematic
National
Partner Inspection
Follow up Is Hampshire Constabulary quoted? Yes No Are there any recommendations / areas for improvement? National Local
Date response sent: 09/01/2016 (Responses to be sent to sof.scetion55responses@homeoffice,gsi.gov.uk & PCC@hmic.gsi.gov.uk )
FORCE RESPONSE: HMIC (Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary) has examined how well forces understand the demand for their service and how well they match their resources to that demand and has provided an assessment of their efficiency. This is part of the PEEL assessment of forces. Two forces were graded as “Outstanding”, eight were graded “Requires Improvement” and 33 were “Good”. Hampshire Constabulary were graded as ‘good’. In response, Deputy Chief Constable Sara Glen said: “We are pleased that HMIC have graded us as good. This is within a backdrop of being the second lowest cost force, with the tenth lowest policing precept, in the country. HMIC have stated we are under resourced by £44.8 million less to spend on policing services than the average force. We can take many positives from this report on how efficient we are but still delivering effective services. It shows that we have a good understanding of current demand for our services and have made considerable progress identifying so-called hidden demand, such as child sexual exploitation. We are developing our understanding of likely future demand, and the report shows that we are using our resources well to manage current demand. Through sound financial planning, we have ambitious plans to transform the service in the future. Our collaboration with other police forces and organisations means we are working to provide the most efficient and effective police service to residents, businesses and visitors in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. HMIC identified one area for improvement - to undertake appropriate activities to understand fully our workforce’s capabilities, in order to identify any gaps and put plans in place to address them. Work to address this is ongoing and will enable us to be confident in our ability to meet current and likely future demand efficiently”.
Date response sent: 09/01/2016 (Responses to be sent to sof.scetion55responses@homeoffice,gsi.gov.uk & PCC@hmic.gsi.gov.uk )
PCC RESPONSE TO THE REPORT: “I am pleased that Hampshire Constabulary ‘Efficiency’ has been rated as Good; and delighted that they have been rated as Outstanding in their approach to elements such as the forces comprehensive and ambitious planning for future demands. The Inspectorate did not identify any causes for concern. I remain committed to ensuring that the Chief Constable and her team have the resources needed to deliver operationally effective modern policing, so that Hampshire Constabulary can build upon its track record of success, innovation and forward looking. From day one I have said I funding will be a challenge and that appropriate resourcing will require change to the national funding formula to make it fairer for all nationally. If it is fairer overall, my communities will benefit from receiving their fair share of resource. I am pleased that the Government generally & the Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service, Brandon Lewis, specifically have this firmly on their agenda. In congratulating my Constabulary for its recognition in the latest HMIC reports, I want to reiterate my promise, to fight for fairer funding so that the residents of Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton have a force that is adequately and fairly funded to meet their needs – and necessary to deliver the operationally effective modern policing we need to keep us all safer for the future.”
Michael Lane, Police and Crime Commissioner
Date response sent: 09/01/2016 (Responses to be sent to sof.scetion55responses@homeoffice,gsi.gov.uk & PCC@hmic.gsi.gov.uk )