Avon and Somerset Police needs to improve how it reviews its vetting decisions and handles complaints, according to a new report.
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) assessed the force in three areas, which covered vetting of police officers and staff, professional standards and counter-corruption arrangements.
Kathryn Stone, His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary, said the force “requires improvement in all areas” of the inspection.
In response, deputy chief constable Jon Reilly said: “We are committed to continuous improvement and welcome ongoing scrutiny.”
The report, part of an integrity inspection programme by HMICFRS, found that the force needed to “improve the way it handles and manages complaints and allegations of misconduct”.
The constabulary also needs to ensure its vetting unit is “adequately staffed” to meet demand, said the report, which added that it had been “working well with other departments” and had worked on its “relationships with partners to identify potential corruption”.
Improvements to how the force monitors its IT systems to help identify data breaches and “computer misuse” are also recommended in the report.
Ms Stone said it was important that those “working to keep our communities safe can be trusted to do so”.
“If police officers or staff are found to be involved in misconduct, it reduces public trust and confidence in the police service.
“We were disappointed to find that the constabulary requires improvement in all areas of our inspection,” she added.
Ms Stone said the inspectorate would continue to monitor the force’s progress.
Avon and Somerset Police said: “We recognise that our integrity is fundamental to the public’s trust and confidence in policing, and to our legitimacy to serve our communities.
“Over the past four years, we have invested significant resources money, technology, and some of our best people into our Professional Standards Department (PSD), Counter Corruption Unit (CCU), and Vetting,” they added.
“We are grateful that the recent report from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) acknowledges the progress we have made and highlights other areas for improvement, which will be invaluable in our journey to becoming an outstanding police service.”
