Watchdog says Notts Police still have ‘work to do’ – but have improved after being put into special measures
Notts Police are said to be making improvements following a damning 2024 inspection report.
A watchdog says Nottinghamshire Police have improved just over a year after the force was put into special measures.
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) issued an ‘accelerated cause of concern‘ in March 2024 over how the force was investigating crime and another on leadership and force management.
An additional cause for concern, on deterring of crime and antisocial behaviour and reducing vulnerability, was issued in July during a regular annual inspection report.
The force was ordered to make changes to those concerns by September 30 2024, and following revisits between January and February this year, the watchdog says following “considerable work” improvements have been made.
HMICFRS interviewed officers and staff, observed force meetings and reviewed documents and data as part of the revisits, and says two of the three concerns have been closed.
Leadership and force management has been lifted – with improvements made in data and effective governance, response to domestic abuse incidents and identifying trends and patterns in demand.
The concerns regarding preventing and deterring crime has also been lifted, with HMICFRS saying the force had addressed the issue of neighbourhood officers and staff being unable to spend enough time working in their communities.
While progress is said to have been made in the area in a short amount of time, the concern regarding effective investigations leading to satisfactory results for victims remains under review.
Examples were found of incorrect outcome codes being applied to finalised investigations, the watchdog says.
His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services Roy Wilsher said: “I am pleased that Nottinghamshire Police has improved. We recognise the considerable work that the force has carried out to support these improvements.
“We will continue to monitor the force’s progress through continuous inspection activity, including a planned victim service assessment, and our Policing Performance Oversight Group.”
Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire Police, Kate Meynell, said: “I am pleased that HMICFRS has recognised the progress Nottinghamshire Police is making. We have worked exceptionally hard to address all the concerns that were raised, and we will continue with this to ensure we are delivering the best possible service to our communities.”
Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden said: “This is recognition of an incredible amount of work by Nottinghamshire Police to make improvements. The direction of travel is incredibly positive, and the work now needs to continue to ensure Nottinghamshire Police emerges as a service that our communities can be proud of.”
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