The Force has once again been graded as ‘requiring improvement’ in an annual review of efficiency by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC).
It received the same grading last year when HMIC first carried out PEEL (police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy) programme review and was commended for its approach to joint working in particular its collaboration with both Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire.
“It is disappointing that, while the inspectors acknowledged the Force had improved on certain areas last year, it still didn’t make it out of the requires improvement rating,” says Jim Mallen, chairman of Bedfordshire Police Federation.
“I think it is just a sign of the immense pressure we are under in terms of making our dwindling resources stretch to meet seemingly ever-increasing demand.”
All 43 forces in England and Wales were inspected on how well they are able to predict demand for their services now and in the longer term, and how they manage their resources, especially their officers and staff.
HMIC found the Force:
- is improving its understanding of current and likely future demand, but has more to do to improve its own efficiency;
- has realised the benefits of collaborative working with other forces; and
- needs to do more to understand demand fully, to make best use of its limited resources and establish a clear plan for how it will police the county effectively in the future.
HM Inspector of Constabulary Zoë Billingham said: “During our inspection we found that Bedfordshire Police is working hard to better understand the broad spectrum of demand that it faces now and in the future, but it has more to do if it is to be regarded as an efficient force.
“While recognising that Bedfordshire Police has low levels of funding compared with other forces, it needs to do more to match its limited resources to the challenging demands it faces, especially since the volume and complexity of crimes it deals with in some areas, for example Luton, compares with the crime profile of a London borough.
“I am pleased that the Force recognises it can make its internal processes more efficient. It is encouraging that the Force is introducing a new shift pattern for front-line officers, which aims to make sure more police officers are available at times when the public most need them.
“I am also pleased that Bedfordshire Police has rightly invested in tackling crimes that cause the greatest harm. There are now additional officers and staff investigating serious sexual offences and crimes committed against children.”
Two of the 43 forces in England and Wales received an ‘outstanding’ grade in HMIC’s efficiency inspection - Durham and West Midlands – compared to five last year.
Eight forces received a ‘requires improvement’ grade while the remaining 33 forces were judged as ‘good’. No forces were judged to be ‘inadequate’.
HMIC will report on its findings of all police forces’ legitimacy - the way that forces are fair and ethical - at the end of this year, and on the effectiveness of police forces in managing all aspects of crime in spring 2017.
