Senior management at North Yorkshire Police have been given three months to get to grips with failings in its structure.
The force has been branded ‘inadequate’ in the way that it manages its work force and plans to deliver services to the communities it serves.
The independent PEEL report has also identified problems in the force’s ability to recruit and train detectives needed for serious crimes as well as finding failings in its ability to protect vulnerable people.
However, it was not all bad news for senior officers with the inspectors praising them for the way officers deal with the public.
And Chief Constable Lisa Winward said the force has taken on board the criticism and is working towards delivering the required improvements identified in the His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary Fire and Rescue Service (HMICFRS) report.
Roy Wilsher, the HM Inspector of Constabulary, said: “The force should review its operating model for investigations and protecting vulnerable people, and the resources required to meet those demands.
“My inspection team found that the force didn’t have enough trained detectives and there was only a limited plan to address this. This is a challenge nationally, but in this force the pressures placed on individual investigators were apparent during the inspection.”
The force was marked as ‘inadequate’ in the way manages its strategic planning, organisational management and value for money, and inspectors have given them three-months to address their concerns.
Inspectors said: “Senior leaders in the force haven’t had enough oversight of the impact that failures in this area are having on performance and management. The structures currently in place for control of the function aren’t effective.
“The inspection found that the workforce lacked confidence in senior leaders to address the concerns that have been raised about specialist areas.”
The force was also told it ‘requires improvement’ in the way it responds to the public; investigates crimes; protects vulnerable people; and developing a positive work place.
Inspectors also rates the force as ‘adequate’ in the way it works to prevent crime and managing offenders.
The report highlighted the problem with a shortage of detectives was first identified in 2018 and was still causing a problem in major investigations.
Chief Constable Lisa Winward said: “They told us that while the right actions might be taking place on the ground by our people, they were not able to find sufficient evidence of how this was directed and overseen through our governance structure.
“The Inspectors told us that every single person they spoke to was committed, fully engaged in their work and doing a really good job in difficult circumstances. They told us that our people take pride in being part of North Yorkshire Police and that there is a strong sense of belonging in the force.
“Since we received the hot debrief from HMICFRS in October 2022, we have been working at a pace to address the issues that they have raised so we can focus on our core responsibilities to the public.
“The Organisational Improvement Plan that we have put in place focuses on achieving the standards required to deliver a good service to our communities.
“The force has been through a significant period of change since our last inspection in 2018, and in particular to our corporate services where our inadequate grading has been identified. We are investing heavily to make these changes.”
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