Good police inspection is a ‘fitting tribute’ to late chief Simon Cole
FORCE HE LED UNTIL MARCH IS PRAISED BY THE WATCHDOG
A GLOWING report into Leicestershire Police’s performance has been called “a fitting tribute” to the late Simon Cole.
The former chief constable was found dead at home in March, just 12 days after retiring from the force.
Official watchdog Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services has now graded Leicestershire Police’s performance across 10 areas.
It found the force was outstanding in three, good in four, adequate in two and inadequate in one – sex offender management.
Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary, Roy Wilsher, said: “Since our inspection, the former chief constable of Leicestershire Police, Simon Cole, sadly passed away.
“Our thoughts remain with Simon’s family, friends and colleagues and this report is a fitting tribute to his leadership.
“Leicestershire Police’s officers and staff are to be congratulated on their hard work.
“The force is outstanding in three areas, which demonstrates its high level of performance, but it can improve in other aspects to provide a consistently good service.”
He said the force was to be praised for its “established leadership culture” that puts protecting vulnerable people first while also empowering the “increasingly diverse staff ”.
He said: “The force uses powerful tools to reduce the threat posed by the most potentially dangerous people.
“This includes its trailblazing expansion of the way it uses Operation Encompass – the national arrangement for informing schools if their pupils have been involved in, or witnessed, domestic abuse.”
Another success highlighted in the report was the production of the YouTube short film Kayleigh’s Love Story, based on the tragic death of teenager Kayleigh Haywood and made as a warning to children and parents to prevent such things happening again.
The 15-year-old Measham schoolgirl was raped and murdered in 2015 after going to visit a man in Ibstock whom she had met online. Mr Wilsher said the inspectorate was also pleased with improvements the force had made based on previous inspections. He said: “Leicestershire has significantly improved its recording of all reported crimes since our last inspection – we found it correctly recorded nearly all sexual offences and was particularly good at recording crimes of rape.
“Rape is one of the most serious crimes a victim can experience, and it is especially important that crimes are recorded accurately to make sure victims receive the service and support they expect and deserve.
“However, the force needs to improve its sex offender management processes, which are at times unclear and deviate from national guidelines.
“I look forward to monitoring the force’s progress towards addressing the areas I have identified for improvement.”
The full report is on the HMICFRS website.
An inquest looking into the death of Mr Cole was opened and adjourned to a date yet to be fixed earlier this month.
The former chief constable was found dead at his home in
Kibworth Harcourt on Wednesday March 30, less than two weeks after retiring from the position he had held for over a decade.
In total, his career in policing spanned more than 30 years.
Leicester Coroner’s Court heard the 55-year-old was formally identified by his wife, Joanne, on the same day.
The court heard that a post-mortem examination has been carried out on the former police chief.
However, his cause of death was not given at the hearing.
Leicestershire Police’s officers and staff are to be congratulated on their hard work Roy Wilsher