Two of the four Welsh police forces 'require improvement' in the way they prevent and investigate crime
A HMIC report grading every police force on its overall effectiveness in reducing crime and keeping people safe, has concluded two of the four Welsh forces 'require improvement'.
Basing its assessment on how well they prevent and investigate crime, manage offenders, protect vulnerable people and tackle serious organised crime, both Dyfed Powys and North Wales Police were told improvement was needed.
Meanwhile South Wales Police and Gwent Police were given a rating of 'Good'.
Overall, the report found most police forces are 'good' at preventing crime and anti-social behaviour, but the quality of investigations remains disappointing.
HMIC says it found a similar pattern in last year's report, and that it is 'disappointed' not to see more progress
North Wales Police says the report highlights the achievement of the force in a number of areas at a time when it has been under 'considerable pressure to reduce spending.'
However it says the report, which states North Wales Police requires improvement in keeping people safe and reducing crime, contradicts itself.
Meanwhile Dyfed-Powys Police say it too welcomes the report which praises its approach to tackling serious and organised crime, and that while it is a small service relative to the area it polices, it is always thinking innovatively about how it allocates resources and meets demand.
Outstanding
Durham Constabulary
Good
Cheshire
Hertfordshire
Nottinghamshire
City of London
Kent
South Wales
Derbyshire
Lancashire Suffolk
Devon and Cornwall
Leicestershire Sussex
Dorset
Merseyside
Thames Valley
Greater Manchester
Norfolk West Midlands
Gwent
North Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
Hampshire
Northumbria
Wiltshire
Requires Improvement
Avon and Somerset
Essex
Northamptonshire
Bedfordshire
Gloucestershire
South Yorkshire
Cambridgeshire
Humberside
Staffordshire
Cleveland
Lincolnshire
Surrey
Cumbria
Metropolitan
Warwickshire
Dyfed-Powys
North Wales
West Mercia