State of Policing The annual assessment of policing in England and Wales

The Police Act 1996, requires Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary to report each year on his assessment of the efficiency and effectiveness of policing in England and Wales.

The assessment covers the full breadth of policing work inspected by HMIC throughout 2012/13, and an overview of police forces in England and Wales. The report opens with an essay by HM Chief Inspector, on his thoughts on policing for the last year drawing on his experience in his role, and HMIC inspections. The essay addresses the financial challenge faced by forces, the demand for the services of the police and the changing nature of crime, crime prevention, the role of police and crime commissioners and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary’s role in inspecting forces.

TCPW Comment:

I just wanted to bring the reader’s attention to these words contained within the introduction to the report. 

‘Crime prevention is enormously cheaper than its investigation and the imposition of sanctions. It saves lives being lost, damaged or wasted, and it is far cheaper in terms of the time, work and money expended on dealing with its consequences, and in terms of the indirect costs to society as it corrodes the fabric of orderly and peaceful living and of the sense and reality of public safety and security.

‘Virtually all of the costs in the criminal justice system, and in dealing with the consequences of crime, are incurred downstream of the offence. It is therefore essential that every effort is made to get upstream and stop crime wherever and whenever that can be achieved. The police must always remember that its first obligation is to prevent crime and keep the peace.’

Read the report here: http://www.hmic.gov.uk/publication/state-of-policing/