Our response to HMICFRS’s inspection of how we tackle serious and organised crime

Today (Thursday 12 June), His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has published its assessment of how well we tackle serious and organised crime (SOC).

The assessment follows an inspection carried out during July 2024 and is published alongside the results of inspections of the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) and the other four forces in our region – Avon and Somerset Police, Devon and Cornwall Police, Dorset Police and Wiltshire Police.

The inspectorate graded Gloucestershire Police as ‘inadequate’ at tackling SOC.

Assistant Chief Constable Rich Ocone, lead for Crime, Justice and Vulnerability, said: “We’re disappointed with the findings of this inspection and don’t believe it represents how we’re tackling serious and organised crime today in Gloucestershire.

“The Constabulary has been working hard over the past year to improve areas the inspectors highlighted as needing improvement immediately following the inspection.

“We’re committed to providing our communities with the best policing services and have continued to take on board the suggestions made to us, refreshing our improvement plan when HMICFRS sent us its draft report three months ago.”

ACC Ocone added: “This report focuses on the effects of a change in operating model in 2023 and investigations that started not long after its inception and a lot has changed in the past 12 months.

“We’ve also seen changes in senior leadership positions and the launch of the Gloucestershire Rapid Improvement Plan (GRIP) – a plan which sets out how we intend to improve our performance over the next 12 months. The GRIP specifically outlines how we will continue to tackle SOC and demonstrates our recognition of the fact it must be treated as a priority.

“One of the key issues raised in the report is whether we have sufficiently trained, skilled and experienced investigators to deal with SOC threats.

“Earlier this year, we moved 20 investigators into specialist crime investigation roles primarily to enhance our ability to investigate child protection cases well but they also provide us with greater resilience in tackling SOC threats.

“We’re also in the process of finalising plans to move more officers into specialist crime roles in the next few months.”

HMICFRS recognised the Constabulary has a dedicated SOC unit and that it had secured additional funding prior to the inspectorate’s visit to increase the number of financial investigators, a key resource in effectively tackling SOC threats.

It also found the force provide training and support for its Lead Responsible Officers – officers responsible for leading disruption and enforcement interventions against Organised Crime Groups (OCGs) – and that their workload was manageable.

In addition, it recognised innovative work with a local college to develop a five-year analytical apprenticeship scheme – which had at the time of inspection led to the recruitment of five additional intelligence analysts.

ACC Ocone said: "HMICFRS said we work well with partners to prevent SOC and protect victims at a local level.

"Its report signals out examples of local policing teams working with partner agencies to tackle SOC – specifically praising Response teams for carrying out hot spot patrols; PCSOs delivering talks to children in schools; drones being used to track drug dealers using electric scooters and that officers across the force had a good knowledge of the process to safeguard vulnerable people using multi-agency arrangements.

"This is the second time in as many months that HMICFRS has recognised our partnership working and we’re proud of the relationships we have with other agencies in the county.

"One example of the success of our work with partners was in Cheltenham last summer. We cleared OCGs out of The Moors and St Paul's areas of the town, prevented other OCGs moving in, and then worked with local councils, schools, NHS, housing agencies, the fire service and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner to start building a better future for those communities. Operation Endeavour was part of the nationally recognised ‘Clear, Hold, Build’ approach.

"Of course, there is always room for improvement but we are confident we have the necessary leadership in place and that throughout the organisation there’s a solid grasp of the risks associated with SOC and how to address them."