Inspector slams two forces for failure on key duties

‘Serious concerns’ raised over police performance

A GOVERNMENT inspector delivered a damning indictment of two police forces in Yorkshire yesterday as he raised “serious concerns” about their ability to maintain safety and reduce crime.

The South Yorkshire and Humberside forces were both said to “require improvement”, with South Yorkshire told that recent changes to neighbourhood policing in the county had further weakened its operations.

In Humberside, where Chief Constable Justine Curran stepped down in February, police were said to display “weaknesses in identifying and addressing the needs of the most vulnerable”.

Michael Cunningham, Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary, said: “I brought these shortcomings to the attention of the force last year. I am disappointed that they have not been adequately addressed.”

His comments came as all assessments relating to 2016 PEEL (police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy) objectives were published.

Turning to South Yorkshire, Mr Cunningham said he had paid particularly close attention as it dealt with the fallout of the Rotherham child grooming scandal and Hillsborough inquests as well as calls for a public inquiry into its response to the miners’ strike confrontation at Orgreave in 1984. He said: “The changes the force made last year to the way it provides neighbourhood policing weakened its ability to tackle the threats facing the people of South Yorkshire effectively.”

By contrast, North Yorkshire was rated “good” and praised for its “clear commitment to preventing crime and anti-social behaviour, with a strong focus on neighbourhood policing.”

West Yorkshire was also rated

as “good”, with Mr Cunningham saying: “I am particularly pleased with the improvements West Yorkshire Police has made in how it protects vulnerable people and supports victims.”

Responding to the criticisms, Humberside’s Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Lee Freeman said the force had fully accepted recommendations made.

He said: “We are already seeing improvements in the way we protect vulnerable people and have made huge leaps forward in this area. These improvements have been acknowledged by HMIC during their return visit.”

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for South Yorkshire said it had already taken action to address concerns raised by the inspector and it was developing a new model for neighbourhood policing.

“Whilst we recognise the urgency of this work, we must get the new model right,” she said.