Police inspectorate raises ‘serious concerns’ about West Midlands force

The police inspectorate has said it has "serious concerns" about how West Midlands Police investigates crime, protects vulnerable people and manages offenders and suspects.

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) graded West Midlands Police’s performance across eight areas of policing and found the force was adequate in two areas, requires improvement in three areas and inadequate in three areas.

The concerns come amid calls from West Midlands mayor Andy Street to transfer the oversight of the force from the police and crime commissioner (PCC) for the area to the mayor’s office.

The move was previously branded a "hostile takeover" by PCC Simon Foster, but Mr Street said the current model was "not holding West Midlands Police well enough to account to drive down crime."

HMICFRS said in its report that West Midlands Police prioritised the prevention and deterrence of crime, including actively seeking views and support from communities, and working with partners to reduce and prevent long-term crime and anti-social behaviour.

But the inspectorate said it had serious concerns about how the force investigated crime, protected vulnerable people, and managed offenders and suspects.

The report said the force needed to improve the time it took to answer emergency and non-emergency calls, did not always carry out effective investigations and did not always consider victims’ wishes or record them properly.

It also did not manage the risk posed to the public by registered sex offenders and online child abuse offenders effectively.

Because of the concerns raised, the inspectorate moved West Midlands Police into an enhanced level of monitoring last month.

It said the process would provide additional scrutiny and support from across the policing sector to help them make improvements.

HM's inspector of constabulary Wendy Williams said: "I have serious concerns about how well West Midlands Police investigates crime, protects vulnerable people and manages offenders and suspects.

"We have highlighted these problems in previous inspection reports, but the force’s performance has declined.

"The force had a change in leadership in the year leading up to our inspection. They have implemented a robust performance framework to help make improvements."

She added: "Most significantly, they have reviewed the force’s operating model and made rapid changes to it.

"I recognise the scale of the challenge senior leaders face in meeting demand and achieving sustainable improvements.

"At the time of our inspection, the force had only just put these changes in place, and there has not yet been time for most of the changes to fully develop.

"Given our findings, West Midlands Police is now in our enhanced monitoring process, which provides additional scrutiny and support. I recognise the rapid action taken by the senior team and accept that it will take time to have the effect the leadership team wants.

"I am in contact with the chief constable and will continue to work closely with the force until the required improvements are made."

Chief constable Craig Guildford said: "When I joined WMP (West Midlands Police) in December 2022 I set some clear priorities as I recognised there needed to be a significant improvement in the force’s performance and the service we provide to local communities.

"I am pleased that HMICFRS has recognised the rapid action that we have taken and that it will take time to have the effect we want and that we are determined to deliver."

He continued: "It is also important they have acknowledged the scale of the challenge we face in securing the funding and resources we need to meet demand and prevent crime and protect the public effectively.

"We have been working very hard over the past 12 months to improve the force and we changed our operating model in April this year.

"We have already made substantial and sustained improvements and we look forward to engaging with HMICFRS in 2024."

A consultation on the transfer of PCC functions to the mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority was launched on Wednesday by the Home Office and will run until 31 January.

PCC Mr Foster said the consultation was "hastily announced" after he claimed to have told both Mr Street and the Home Office that residents needed to have their say.

He said: "I urge members of the public to send a clear message to both of them: enough is enough, we will not be treated with contempt and we will not be taken for fools.

"The mayor’s decision to attempt a hostile takeover of the police and crime commissioner powers has been exposed for what it is – a cynical, divisive and illegal power grab."

The mayor’s office has been approached for comment.

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