Devon & Cornwall Police told to improve how it vets officers
It's after an inspection by the policing watchdog.
Last updated 29th Oct 2025
Devon and Cornwall Police has been told it needs to improve how it handles integrity within the force, following a new report by the police inspectorate. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) assessed the force and found that although there are some positives, several key areas require urgent attention.
The inspection looked at three main areas: vetting of officers and staff, professional standards, and counter-corruption measures. Devon and Cornwall Police was graded as ‘requires improvement’ in all three.
The report says the force works hard to check for bias in its vetting decisions and is well-staffed to deal with the demand. It also has a system in place for sharing important information about staff conduct between departments. However, inspectors found the force does not always record or investigate information that might cast doubt on whether someone is suitable to work in policing. They called for a better quality assurance process to make sure vetting decisions are reviewed properly.
Complaints handling was another area that came under criticism. The report says the force needs to manage complaints and conduct matters better, and respond to public complaints more quickly. His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary, Kathryn Stone, stressed that failing to deal with misconduct can damage public trust in the police.
There was some good news in the report, with inspectors praising the force’s efforts to find and act on corruption-related intelligence. The counter-corruption team uses an IT system that alerts staff when there may be potential misuse.
But the inspectorate says Devon and Cornwall Police also needs to improve how it monitors the use of its IT systems, so it can properly investigate any possible misuse by staff or officers.
Kathryn Stone said the work of the vetting, professional standards, and counter-corruption teams is more vital than ever. She said public trust depends on making sure only the right people join the police and those within the force are held to high standards.
The inspectorate says it will continue to keep a close eye on Devon and Cornwall Police to make sure it takes action on the findings. The full report, ‘A report into the effectiveness of integrity arrangements in Devon and Cornwall Police’, is being published on Wednesday 29 October.