Report

its recommendations.

It said: “The serious causes of concern found during this inspection are such that HMIC may revisit the force in early 2018 to assess progress.”

Improvements ordered by inspectors after a visit in 2014 had been made, but not all had been maintained since. This undermined the effectiveness and efficiency of the force’s crime-recording.

Reports of crime made directly to public protection teams were often not being recorded.

On top of this, crime-recording accuracy was not being scrutinised, and there had only been limited progress in ensuring officers and staff understand their crimerecording responsibilities.

It was found officers and staff were not making the correct decisions far too often.

The control room was criticised for the way it managed incidents; there was insufficient understanding of crimerecording requirements, and limited supervision to correct decisions by officers and staff.

In fact, inspectors found the force failed to ensure it adequately records all reports of rape, other sexual offences, violence and crimes reported directly to its public protection units.

The force was also criticised for the way it collected diversity information from victims.

On a positive note, the Crime Data Integrity inspection report found officers and staff are placing the victim at the forefront of their crime-recording decisions, and the force’s victim support hub is well established.

HMIC reported the force has already increased the size of its data audit unit, appointed a head of crime recording and investigative standards.