The Force is ‘good’ at legitimately keeping people safe and reducing crime, according to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC).
This is the second year running HMIC has carried out inspections of this kind at all forces across England and Wales, as part of its annual PEEL inspections. HMIC graded Derbyshire and Kent police forces as outstanding, 36 forces as good and five as requiring improvement. None were graded as inadequate.
“With all the demands currently faced by the Force in terms of meeting demand with reduced resources, this report shows that fundamentally we are still delivering in terms of the key role of the police service – protecting our communities and fighting crime,” says Jim Mallen, chairman of Bedfordshire Police Federation.
“The inspectors have recognised our commitment to treating people fairly and that includes the public we serve but also those working for the Force.
“They also pointed out where improvements were needed and I am sure these areas will be addressed.”
HMIC found that Bedfordshire Police:
- has a good understanding of the importance of treating the people it serves with fairness and respect;
- has prioritised wellbeing, and provides some good support to its workforce; but
- has failed to implement recommendations from HMIC's 2014 integrity and corruption report.
HM Inspector of Constabulary Zoë Billingham said: “Bedfordshire Police has performed well in this inspection. We found that the Force’s alliance with Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Constabularies is proving to be successful in a number of areas that we have inspected, allowing the forces involved to share resources, which provides real benefits. We found that treating people fairly and respectfully is understood by most officers and staff.
“The Force uses a variety of methods to communicate and engage with the public, including those people who may have less trust and confidence in the police. It is good at seeking and acting on feedback to improve how it treats all the people it serves.”
She continued: “Taking all the work that the Force is doing to improve its culture of legitimacy and respect I have judged that overall Bedfordshire Police is ‘good’ at legitimately keeping people safe and reducing crime. I will continue to monitor how the Force performs in this area, and addresses the areas it needs to improve.”
HMIC considers a police force to be legitimate if it has the consent of the public and if those working in the Force consistently behave in a way that is fair, ethical and within the law.
Full reports on these inspections for all forces in England and Wales are available on HMIC’s website.
