Police require public’s trust

Inspector praises West Yorkshire

EVEN THOUGH Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary – the police watchdog – publishes regular reports throughout the year, its overview makes sobering reading. As is now the norm, the South Yorkshire and Humberside forces are both rebuked in the strongest terms – the former because of a management malaise arising from several national scandals, not least the prevalence of child sexual abuse in Rotherham, and the latter as a result of the failings of former chief constable Justine Curran who resigned shortly before the publication of a critical report earlier this year.

Yet, while local residents now have every right to expect their police and crime commissioners to preside over significant improvements, inspector Michael Cunningham’s findings with regard to West Yorkshire’s police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy – the socalled Peel principles – offer reassurance. Unlike others, it is managing to protect vulnerable people and support victims of crime through a series of protocols developed in the wake of critical reports in the past – proof of HMIC’s effectiveness as a watchdog. Its work protecting the public from the most prolific, serious and dangerous offenders also been singled out for praise, along with its response to organised crime.

However it would be a dereliction of duty on the part of Dee Collins, the relatively new chief constable, if she did not address misgivings about neighbourhood policing. Her force’s non-emergency hotline has been previously proven to be not fit for purpose and it would be regrettable if this failing overshadowed progress in other areas. After all, policing is at its best when it is partnership between officers and the public that they purport to serve – irrespective of whether it is more traditional crimes or offences arising from the advent of the internet and new technology.