Police forces becoming ‘isolated from communities’, HMIC warns

Zoe Billingham, HM Inspector of Constabulary (HMIC), has cautioned that police forces are slowly regressing to an old model of policing, where they are becoming ‘isolated from communities’.

In her report, Billingham explained that officers in England and Wales were increasingly being removed from the beat to man front counters, complete paperwork in stations and guard crime scenes. The move means that forces have significantly less time to take part in ‘vitally important preventive work in communities’.

The inspectorate also revealed that while no forces were rated as ‘inadequate’, 18 were ranked as ‘requires improvement’. However, 24 forces were rated as ‘good’, with Durham police force achieving an ‘outstanding’ rating.

Billingham added: "Front-line neighbourhood police officers have told us repeatedly that they are being pulled from their vitally important preventative work in communities to fulfil other duties, like guarding crime scenes, spending time in stations investigating crimes or staffing police station front counters.

"Losing our eyes and ears in the community is only likely to hamper good performance in preventing crime."

Policing Minister Mike Penning argued: "Police reform is working and crime has fallen by more than a quarter since 2010, according to the independent crime survey for England and Wales. Last year we protected police budgets for the next four years, once local precept is taken into account.

"Chief constables and Police and Crime Commissioners have no excuse whatsoever not to deliver at least good quality policing in their areas."