Response to HMICFRS integrity inspection report

We recognise that our integrity is fundamental to the public’s trust and confidence in policing, and to our legitimacy to serve our communities.

Over recent years, we have invested significant resources – money, technology, and some of our best people into our Professional Standards Department (PSD), Counter Corruption Unit (CCU), and Vetting.

We are pleased that the recent report from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) acknowledges the significant progress we have made in maintaining the highest possible standards in Thames Valley Police. The areas for improvement highlighted are also invaluable in our focus on continual improvement and being an excellent police force trusted by all our communities.

Deputy Chief Constable Ben Snuggs said: “We remain unequivocal in our commitment to continual improvement, and we welcome the independent scrutiny provided by this report. Maintaining the integrity of our workforce, and the trust and confidence of our communities in Thames Valley Police, is at our core.

“Public trust in policing relies on officers and staff demonstrating the highest standards of professional behaviour every single day. Whilst the vast majority dedicate their careers to serving and protecting the public, and do so to a very high standard, some do not, and the force has a strong track record of appropriate misconduct sanctions in those cases.

We have been proactive in taking decisive action since the last inspection, namely:

• Meeting vetting service level agreements,
• Improved training monitoring,
• Improve monitoring of IT system use,
• Increased investigative resources,
• Reduced investigation turnaround times,
• Improved record keeping,
• Rewritten internal guidance and reduced outstanding reviews.

DCC Snuggs continues, “I am pleased that the inspection reflects many of the positive changes we have made, including our increase in staffing to manage vetting demand, the swift logging of public complaints, our transparency and accountability through misconduct processes, as well as much of our approach to tackling the risk of corruption. We also now have an independent assessment of where we need to go further, and the force will use the report to focus on the continual improvement our communities expect to see.”

A copy of the report is available to view online.