Wiltshire Police still not investigating crime "effectively"
Review also highlights a "deteriorated" performance in supporting victims
Last updated 20th Dec 2022
Wiltshire Police's performance in investigating crime and supporting victims has "deteriorated", according to a review by the police inspectorate.
The review published today (20th December) follows a damaging report dated July 2022, which outlined multiples areas of concern within the force and resulted in Wiltshire Police being put under 'special measures'.
The main causes for concern highlighted in the initial report included "failing to protect vulnerable people from harm" and lack of "adequate strategic plans in place".
Last month, 90 police case files in Wiltshire were reviewed, as part of a revisit by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Service (HMICFRS) to check on progress made so far.
It found the force still isn't carrying out effective investigation nor supporting victims to an acceptable standard.
His Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary, Wendy Williams, writes that Wiltshire Police's performance on those levels has instead "deteriorated" since the previous Police Efficiency, Effectiveness and Legitimacy (PEEL) assessment.
"Some investigations weren’t carried out in a timely manner, and relevant and proportionate lines of enquiry weren’t always completed. Many investigations weren’t properly reviewed by supervisors and lacked investigation plans."
"Sometimes victims weren’t updated throughout investigations. Victims are more likely to have confidence in a police investigation when regularly updated. A thorough investigation increases the likelihood of perpetrators being identified and a positive outcome for the victim.
"The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime wasn’t being consistently applied and victim needs assessments weren’t always completed. This could lead to victims disengaging with investigations, not supporting prosecutions, and losing faith in the criminal justice process."
"Clear we've not achieved the required improvements"
Wiltshire Police has made progress in checking whether victims are vulnerable, including in ensuring call handlers are skilled to identify warning signs.
Improvements were also identified in how the police record detailed risk assessments for victims of domestic abuse.
However, a number of areas of continuing concern were flagged including officers not taking all appropriate investigative opportunities available to them, identification of repeat victims and the consistency of updates to victims during an investigation.
His Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary, Wendy Williams, said:
"We found that the force had made progress against some of the causes of concern recommendations that we focused on in this revisit. But some of the improvements were small and there was a deterioration in some areas.
"We also highlight our negative findings in relation to how the force investigates crime. These findings are an area of concern, and we will therefore, of course, consider the force’s performance in this respect as part of our ongoing monitoring of the force."
Following the PEEL inspection in the summer - outlining several areas as ‘inadequate’ or ‘requiring improvement’ - a taskforce was established to ensure improvements were made across the board and basic standards were being met.
Chief Constable Kier Pritchard said:
“I want our communities to feel confident that we are actively addressing the areas that have been identified by HMICFRS.
“In part this latest progress report is telling us that there are some improvements and that the work we’ve done since our PEEL inspection in the summer is making some positive change.
"It is also clear that we have not yet achieved the required improvements in all parts and the report has highlighted that in some areas performance has deteriorated, which we are working hard to address immediately.
“This remains a clear focus and priority for everyone across the Force and we remain relentless in our efforts to improve our services.”
Fault lies with leadership team, says PCC
Wiltshire's Police and Crime Commissioner says improvements in the force will be difficult, until the current Chief Constable Kier Pritchard leaves his post next year.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, PCC Philip Wilkinson has blamed the outgoing police chief and his leadership team for "failing to exercise their authority and responsibility".
He told he wasn't surprised but "frustrated" with the results of the new review, and accused senior leadership within the force of standing in the way of needed reforms.
"We've got some highly qualified police officers. What is happening is that whenever there is a new challenge for Wiltshire Police, the current culture is that, rather than just telling all commanders and managers to reassess how they're doing business, they take people away from the investigative team to form a separate team to deal with that challenge.
"When that team isn't delivering the way it should do, they form another team - a quality and assurance team - and that takes more people from the frontline.
"So rather than focussing on what we should be focusing, which is investigative standards, we're doubling up on management processes and that is taking people away from where they should be.
"It is mismanagement of the highest level, in my opinion."
PCC Philip Wilkinson insists he will continue to hold Wiltshire Police to account and says he's confident to see improvements by mid-summer next year.
"I can personally reassure residents of Wiltshire that I'm leaning in and holding the Chief Constable and his leadership (team) to a degree that is probably beyond the level of what the legislation says I should do. I'm actually leaning in much harder.
"I have every confidence that with a new Chief Constable, with my support, we'll start to see improvements by mid-summer, and we will get out of the special measures within the year."
Earlier this week, it was revealed that Met Police Commander, Catherine Roper, is the preferred candidate for the new role of Chief Constable at Wiltshire Police.
A hearing is expected to take place in January to confirm the appointment.