Report Summary
HMICFRS recently published an annual assessment of policing in England and Wales, with this report noting findings and recommendations relevant to Scotland, as well as an outline of related oversight provided by the Authority.
Summary/Findings - 2. The police aren’t always getting the basics right
Responding to the public and investigating crime are still the worst-performing areas: ‘Volume’ crime (i.e. any crime which, through its sheer volume, has a significant impact on the community and the ability of the local police to tackle it) does not always get the police time and attention it deserves and performance varies across areas.
Effective neighbourhood policing is vital for prevention: Neighbourhood policing has seen a significant decline, however HMICFRS argue that it is an essential component to build and maintain relationships with local communities and to act as a deterrent of crime. Furthermore, forces that prioritise neighbourhood policing can better plan long-term solutions. As such, the report urges policing to view prevention as a core to all policing activity.
Stop and search is an essential tool that needs to be better understood: The report advocates for increased understanding of stop and search as a tool to prevent crime, drawing out a recommendation for commissioning research into evaluating stop and search. This is particularly in relation to higher rates of stop and search of those in the BAME community.
