Mayor & Deputy react to North Yorkshire Police inspection report
Force "good" in six areas, "adequate" in two and "requires improvement" in one
Last updated 22nd Apr 2026
The Mayor of York and North Yorkshire has expressed his approval of the latest HMICFRS inspection results for North Yorkshire Police, acknowledging the strides made by the force in recent years.
Today's report highlights improvements in leadership, collaboration, neighbourhood policing, and public protection.
In the assessment, North Yorkshire Police received 'Good' ratings in six areas, 'Adequate' in two, and 'Requires Improvement' in one.
David Skaith said, "These inspection results reflect the hard work, professionalism and commitment of officers, and staff across North Yorkshire Police. Over recent years the force has taken real steps to improve how it keeps people safe in our region."
He further commented on the need for continuous improvement, "The progress made is welcome but we must be clear - good is the minimum the public expect. The inspection is also clear that there is still work to do. The public have a right to feel safe wherever they live or work in our region and my expectation is that North Yorkshire Police must continue this progress towards becoming an outstanding police force."
Jo Coles, Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime, added, "Previous HMICFRS inspections identified clear areas for improvement, and it is encouraging to see how much progress North Yorkshire Police have made. Working alongside Mayor David Skaith I will continue to hold the Chief Constable to account to monitor progress against the inspection recommendations, especially around custody and responding to the public to ensure the positive momentum of recent years is maintained."
She emphasized the importance of utilizing opportunities from devolution and the combined authority to further support the police force’s trajectory from good to outstanding.
Jo Coles also addressed the broader implications of the inspection, "This inspection also reinforces the need for national policing reforms to be focused on delivery, strong local accountability and building public confidence. In York and North Yorkshire we will always want changes and reforms to be focused on what can best improve public safety and, as we've said previously, the Mayor and I are concerned any Yorkshire-wide police mergers would put this at risk."