Crime watchdog gives good rating to Lincolnshire Police, but Humberside needs improvements

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) ranked Lincolnshire Police as an overall good force, but Humberside Police, covering North and North East Lincolnshire, was rated as requiring improvements.

Lincolnshire Police has a good performance for preventing crime, tackling anti-social behaviour, investigating crime, reducing re-offending, and tackling serious and organised crime.

However, the HMICFRS report noted the force covering Lincolnshire requires improvement in protecting vulnerable people.

Assistant Chief Constable Shaun West said the force hired analysts to better understand the pattern of crimes against vulnerable people in the county.

Lincolnshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Shaun West

ACC West noted the Lincolnshire force’s resources “are tight”. He said: “Budget cuts have meant that while we can maintain our established numbers of staff and officers for now, we haven’t been able to make any significant investment in terms of resource and demand so that we can invest more fully in the future.”

Meanwhile, the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones said he is concerned there are too many rape, serious sexual offences and internet child abuse cases to deal with for the number of specialised officers at the force.

The HMICFRS report for Humberside Police noted the force covering North and North East Lincolnshire required improvement.

It said improvements are needed in the way it investigates routine crimes, such as assaults and criminal damage, as well as a need to better protect vulnerable people (similar to the Lincolnshire force).

The force policing Scunthrope and Grimsby areas did receive good marks for preventing crime, tackling anti-social behaviour, as well as tackling serious and organised crime.

Humberside Police Assistant Chief Constable Chris Noble

Humberside Police Assistant Chief Constable Chris Noble said: “We agree that we need to do more to meet the needs and demands of our communities.

“This is why we have initiated a huge amount of work to understand demands on our service, we’ve invested in technology to do this and worked with our officers and staff to develop a new shift pattern that will help us to meet the demand better.

“Our biggest ever recruitment campaign for new officers is going really well and by the end of the year we will have seen an increase of 300 new officers over an 18 month period which will make a huge difference to our ability to meet the needs of our communities.”