Inspection findings underline urgent need for additional support and national police reform

The findings of Gloucestershire Constabulary’s latest inspection underline the urgent need for additional support from Government and for national police reform. 

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has today (9 October) graded the Constabulary as ‘inadequate’ in two areas of its Police Effectiveness, Efficiency and Legitimacy (PEEL) assessment and ‘requires improvement’ in five areas, with one area found to be ‘adequate’.

In addition to identifying areas for improvement, HMICFRS also identified many examples of good work throughout the organisation. Among the positives detailed in their report, inspectors said the Constabulary:

• has significantly improved its response to answering 999 calls. Answering 89.9% of calls within 10 seconds during the year ending May 2026 compared to 59.2% in the year ending June 2023. The national target is 90%.
• identifies vulnerability at the first point of contact, correctly prioritises the urgency of response and works well with partners to safeguard and reduce the risk of harm to vulnerable people
• works with partners to prevent crime, divert young people away from crime and to reduce reoffending
• understands how it is using stop and search and use of force powers and is trying to do more to reduce disproportionality
• engages well with its workforce – highlighting how its strategic plans simplify priorities and explain what they mean for officers and staff
• can show how it aligns finances to its priorities, how it evaluates value for money, and an understanding of future budgeting needs

Temporary Chief Constable Maggie Blyth said: “We accept the findings of our PEEL report as they are the same as our own self-assessment and reflect the long-term systemic challenges which I inherited and have spoken about publicly over the past two years.

“Inspectors recognise we are driving forward changes, yet they acknowledge we are ‘restricted by financial constraints and poor IT infrastructure’.

“We have a fantastic workforce who go above and beyond to support victims and apprehend offenders and so it is both frustrating and disheartening to not be able to support them in the way we want to.  I am proud of what my officers and staff do in very difficult circumstances.

“During the past couple of years, we have been relentless in our ambition and commitment to bring Gloucestershire Constabulary into the 21^st century and improve our performance at pace, at a cost we can afford, and we have had some success. But this will take more time and investment.

“We have a new three-year strategic plan which provides a clear roadmap; we are due to implement a new operating model in the new year, which will include a growth in the number of detectives; while a recent independent audit has confirmed we have a grip on our finances. 

“Unfortunately, these measures only take us so far and it is clear we are likely to still be unable to make all the changes HMICFRS expect of us.

“Having recognised this for some time, we have repeatedly asked for both practical and financial help.

“And as a result, we have benefited in recent months from expert advice from the College of Policing while the Home Office has also provided a limited grant to help upgrade some of our computers.

“We are grateful for this support however, given some of the Constabulary’s technology dates back to the last century, significant investment is needed if we are to bring about the improvements required and if we’re to have the data available to us which will demonstrate improvements in our performance.

“As one of the smallest police forces in England and Wales though, we do not have the ability to invest in every area of our organisation, and we have to prioritise how we use our resources.

“I am not the only Chief Constable to make the case for a more consolidated and coordinated approach to policing nationally, and I look forward to the establishment of a new National Police Service as well as the Home Secretary’s plan for what police reform will look like.

“Indeed, we would welcome working with the Home Office in becoming a pathfinder force should one be needed, as we anticipate it would bring huge benefits to the communities of Gloucestershire.

“Our communities deserve a police force they can be proud of, but we know we cannot wait for reform, given it could take several years to implement.

“We are already engaged in discussions with the national Police Digital Service to help to turbocharge our ICT infrastructure and also with other forces about collaborations, and I’d like to reassure all those who live, work and visit our county we are doing everything we can.

“Our staff surveys repeatedly show our workforce is under significant strain, with many suffering from intolerably high workloads and being spread too thinly across different workstreams. Yet day after day they continue to serve the public, ensuring they are there for them when they need them most.

“I am proud of the improvements we have made in Gloucestershire in the past couple of years, particularly given the restraints we are working with, and of the continued commitment of our people to serve the public, but ultimately we can only do so much without more support or the modernising of policing’s structures through reform.”