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In the latest annual assessment of policing in England and Wales, HMI Andy Cooke said that policing is being held to account to meet the government’s mission of safer streets, but without the “requisite investment,” it is a “massive challenge” to deliver while policing has “one hand tied behind its back.”
Unusually for the State of Policing report, the third from HMI Cooke, there are no recommendations. Instead, he sets out the findings of the various thematic reports and PEEL assessments that have taken place over the past 16 months and the first year of the new government.
“There is a great deal to do, and the police service will need focus and commitment. So that the service has the time and opportunity to make the necessary changes, I have chosen not to make any recommendations in my ‘State of Policing’ report this year.”
His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Andy Cooke.
The report contains familiar themes: not enough money, including the absence of capital grants and long term certainty of budgets as well as the issue of large number of police officers with less than five years experience. He said that more police officers is a good thing but lack of experience is felt by the public.
The timing of this report coincides with the cabinet reshuffle which has led to a change of Home Secretary. HMI Cooke praised the former Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper. He told press that the police reform programme is right but it cannot work under the current constraints.
“There is no indication of the level of investment to meet the government’s reform plans,” he said. “The budgets for police are very low. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to reform. It will be a missed opportunity if it is not provided from the start.”
His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Andy Cooke.
Asked whether changes to the 43 force police model in England and Wales should change, he agreed it was an anachronism put in place over 60 years ago but to focus on that now would create a massive distraction from delivery of the reform programme.
He said that the proposal for a new national centre for policing, made by the former Home Secretary, that will form part of the imminent police reform white paper will improve the 43 force model. He didn’t discount mergers of police forces and acknowledged the changes that will come out of English devolution deals that will see a reduction in the number of Police and Crime Commissioners.
HMI Cooke points out that there are issues with leadership with too few applications for Chief Constable roles, notably in his own former force of Merseyside, where there was just one applicant.
Not enough people are applying, he notes, adding “that this needs to change.” He said that it shouldn’t just be for the PCC to decide who takes the top role. “It is down to ourselves, PCCs and the government make sure the right people apply for the jobs.”
As a result, HMICFRS will carry out a thematic inspection on leadership in policing including the role of the Chief Constable. “It will allow us to further explore this issue and make recommendations for improvement,” he said.
Emily Spurrell, Chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners responded on this point, adding: “the report’s findings on leadership and recruitment challenges are important. PCCs have recruited strong candidates for chief constable roles, but we must continue working to expand and diversify the pool of talent ready to take on these demanding positions.”
Read the full State of Policing 2024-25 report.
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