Police Forces 'Failing Vulnerable Victims'
An
investigation has identified four forces as "inadequate" in the way
they protect and support those at risk.
 |
Some
forces 'inadequate' in how they help victims.
|
An investigation by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary
(HMIC) identified four forces as "inadequate" in the way they protect
and support those at risk.
Bedfordshire, Essex, Staffordshire and Surrey were judged as
having "serious weaknesses" in their ability to safeguard and
investigate cases involving vulnerable people.
Inspectors said 27 forces "caused concern" or had
"areas for improvement" or both. No force was rated as
"outstanding".
Zoe Billingham, who led the investigations, said: "Victims
of crime and anti-social behaviour who are vulnerable in some way are in
greatest need of the police's protection and support but HMIC's inspection
found that most forces require improvement in how they protect and support
them."
In response to the HMIC report, Staffordshire Police said :
"We are developing a range of improvements to give confidence to our
communities, partners and HMIC that Staffordshire Police is keeping people
safe."
Essex Police
accepted the findings as "profoundly disappointing" but added "a
huge amount of work has been under way for the last two years and more to
improve how Essex Police protects vulnerable people".
Bedfordshire Police told Sky News: "A significant amount of
work has been done since the inspection earlier in the year and we are pleased
to see positive improvements emerging."
And Surrey Police's response was: "The Force has
fundamentally overhauled its capabilities and substantially increased the
number of officers and staff working in these areas."
The findings come at the same time as a linked HMIC inquiry
warned units dedicated to domestic abuse are on the verge of being
"overwhelmed" following a 31% surge in reported cases.
This spike is partially due better recording of domestic abuse
violence and the increased willingness from victims to come forward.
The report said all 43 forces in England and Wales had responded
well to a highly critical 2014 report and all had made some level of
improvement.
But it stressed all vulnerable victims needed the same level of
support and "even small failures may have tragic consequences".
