DORSET Police has been criticised for the way it investigates some forms of offending.

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) today published its first PEEL (police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy) assessment of each force in England and Wales.

In the PEEL assessment five of the six areas assessed as ‘Good’ and only one area as ‘Requires Improvement’ in relation to how effective Dorset Police is at investigating offending.

Key points of the PEEL Assessment and Crime Inspection

  • Crime has continued to fall in Dorset at a greater rate than other areas in England and Wales.
  • Dorset Police is good at reducing crime, preventing offending and tackling anti-social behaviour and has achieved large reductions in crime.
  • Dorset Police has a strong focus on tackling and dismantling organised crime groups and have effectively redeployed investigative resources to target threats such as cyber-crime and child sexual exploitation.
  • HMIC were impressed by the evidence-based approach used to evaluate new ideas and to understand what works in practice.
  • Dorset Police has made good progress in saving money and continuing to fight crime in spite of significant financial challenges and have spent less on policing than most other areas in England and Wales.
  • The accuracy of crime recording was highlighted as an area for improvement.
  • Victim satisfaction levels are slightly below average for some crimes.
  • The effectiveness of the way the force investigates offending has been rated as ‘requires improvement’ due to a backlog of cases which meant potentially vulnerable victims were waiting an unacceptable time for services or were missed entirely.

Last week the Dorset Echo revealed that the police were failing to investigate up to 60 per cent of crimes.

Inspectors found that the Force “generally carries out investigations to a good standard” and that “staff show a good understanding of what might constitute a vulnerable victim and the importance of providing appropriate support”.

However, the overall rating for this area was downgraded because of a backlog of cases in the Safeguarding Referral Unit, which the HMIC believed meant “potentially vulnerable victims were either waiting an unacceptable time for services or missed altogether”, and because of concern that the Force’s definition of vulnerability was too narrow.

Detective Superintendent Andrew Clowser, director of public protection for Dorset Police, explained: “The definitions we use to identify vulnerable adults and children are widely accepted and shared, they have not been chosen in isolation by Dorset Police. They are outlined in relevant legislation for children and adults, used by and agreed with our partners, and have passed the scrutiny of local safeguarding inspections.”

He added: “Following our feedback to the HMIC, we understood these points of factual accuracy had been understood and accepted. Therefore, while the details in their full report have been amended, it is disappointing that the overall rating for this area has not been reconsidered.”

In relation to the other two reports published today, the Integrity and Corruption inspection found high standards at all levels of Dorset Police, The Crime inspection found the Force to have achieved large crime reductions and to have a good preventative approach, with some recommendations made around investigative practices.

Responding to the assessment Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, Martyn Underhill said: “I welcome this report which recognises Dorset Police for its reductions in crime and in particular victim based crime.

“It also acknowledges the strong focus on the needs of victims and increasing public satisfaction. I attribute this to the hard work of officers and staff across Dorset Police.

“I am also pleased that Dorset Police has been recognised for its good work with partners in preventing crime and reducing re-offending.

“However, I am concerned by the report findings into the backlog of cases in the safeguarding referral unit and have asked Dorset Police for a report to explain why cases were either missed or waiting times imposed.

“With regard to the report’s concerns over crime recording, I have written to the Chief Constable asking for an urgent response to some of the issues raised and for an assurance that the immediate recommendations will be implemented as soon as practicable.

“The report identifies that good progress has been made in making savings but states that finding savings in the future may be a struggle.

“What we have to remember here is that Dorset is consistently the worst funded police force in the United Kingdom in terms of government grant per resident and has amongst the leanest and cost efficient policing support services in the country.”