WYP makes improvements since last inspection but inspectors say progress needed

West Yorkshire Police has made some improvements since its last inspection, including in its use of police powers and personal development review processes, but further progress is needed the police inspectorate has said.

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) graded West Yorkshire Police’s performance across eight areas of policing and found the force was adequate in three areas and requires improvement in five areas.

HMICFRS said the force shows consistently strong performance in answering emergency and non-emergency calls, with a low rate of abandoned calls.

The inspectorate found the force also has effective internal and external oversight of stop and search and use of force powers, and has improved its personal development review processes.

However, the inspectorate said the force needs to improve how it manages demand, investigates crime, and safeguards children and adults at risk of harm.

The force needs to make further improvements in how it shares learning from statutory reviews and manages the disclosure of information to Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme applicants.

The inspectorate also found that some governance meetings weren't taking place or were ineffective, with some examples of poor leadership.

While the inspectorate found the force is achieving better outcomes for victims of crime, it needs to improve further with many officers experiencing high workloads and struggling to cope with demand.

His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary Michelle Skeer said: “I am satisfied with some aspects of the performance of West Yorkshire Police in keeping people safe, reducing crime and providing an effective service to victims.

“The force has made improvements since our last inspection, particularly in its use of police powers, performance data and personal development review processes. However, I have concerns about how it is managing demand, investigating crime, and safeguarding children and adults at risk of harm.

“During our inspection, we gave the force feedback, which it acted on at pace. I am optimistic that the leadership team, together with its committed officers and staff, will continue to make progress and I will continue to monitor its progress.”

West Yorkshire Police response

Chief Constable Sir John Robins QPM DL said: “We welcome the findings of HMICFRS’s recent inspection and remain committed to delivering the consistent, high-quality service that the public expects and deserves.

“This inspection acknowledges the improvements West Yorkshire Police has made since the last HMICFRS PEEL (Police Effectiveness, Efficiency and Legitimacy) report.

“Crime is down by 9% and the prosecution of offenders has increased by 25%. We are answering 999 and 101 calls faster than ever and we are working tirelessly to improve our attendance times to incidents. The satisfaction rate for victims of crime is now at 72%.

“HMICFRS rightly highlights the areas where the force should improve, and acknowledges that the signs of improvement are already underway. The inspection also recognises the significant progress we have made since their last visit and, most importantly, the overall performance continuing to strengthen.

“We recognise there is more to do. We are working hard to bolster our investigations and to deliver a consistent high-quality service to everyone who needs us.”

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