Inspector heaps praise on Northamptonshire Police for 'turning around' since damning report on ability to record crime in 2014

The force had serious failures in how it recorded crime - which has been described as "one of the basic building blocks" of policing - when it was inspected six years ago,.
Northamptonshire Police have been praised for coming back from a damning report in 2014 over how it records crime.Northamptonshire Police have been praised for coming back from a damning report in 2014 over how it records crime.
Northamptonshire Police have been praised for coming back from a damning report in 2014 over how it records crime.

Northamptonshire Police has been praised by inspectors for learning from a scathing report six years ago over how it records serious crime and climbing back up to a "good" rating.

Six years ago, Northamptonshire Police was scolded in a report by Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Service (HMICFRS) over how it recorded crimes brought to them by the public.

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The capacity to properly log and record crime when it is reported to a force has been described as "one of the basic buidling blocks" of policing - but in 2014, Northamptonshire Police were found to be rife with failures.

Chief Constable Nick Adderley: "We need to continue the momentum and maintain these good crime recording levels."Chief Constable Nick Adderley: "We need to continue the momentum and maintain these good crime recording levels."
Chief Constable Nick Adderley: "We need to continue the momentum and maintain these good crime recording levels."

The damning report included criticisms of "a lack of regard" for victims and even incidents of using information about a potential victim's lifestyle to undermine what was being reported, alongside a widespread lack of training in how to record incidents properly.

Now, in a new report published today (July 31), Northamptonshire Police has reportedly shaken off the bad report and has earned high praise from inspectors for the steps it has taken in six years.

HMICFRS inspector Zoe Billingham told the Chronicle & Echo: "While it's still on an improvement journey, the basic building blocks of policing - of reporting a crime on the books - are now in place.

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"That might seem like faint praise but we have been into 42 forces across the country and there are not many forces doing as well as Northamptonshire in this regard.

Police and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold: "This was a job well done."Police and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold: "This was a job well done."
Police and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold: "This was a job well done."

"It might sound like common sense to you and I, but if you aren't getting the crimes in the books you haven't a hope of getting an officer to investigate.

"It's really reassuring to me to be able to publish this report."

The report says Northamptonshire Police has improved how it trains staff to report crime accurately and is recording 92 per cent of all incidents brought to it - where some of the best in the country have rates of 94 per cent.

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As a result, Northamptonshire Police has now been rated as "good".

However, one criticism was that the force needed to improve how it records crime surrounding domestic abuse.

It comes after the force set up a dedicated team in June to engage with domestic abuse reports after a seven per cent rise during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Zoe Billingham said: "It's quite a rare occasion to be able to speak to strongly about the findings. I'm really pleased and encouraged by what we've found.

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"I wish to commend the police staff and leadership that have worked hard to make this happen... There has been a change of mindset and a new understanding that it's important to report crime."

Northamptonshire Police Nick Adderley said: "I’m thrilled we have received a ‘good’ rating from HMICFRS. There is so much great work happening across the Force at the moment and this report is another positive example.

"We need to continue the momentum and maintain these good crime recording levels, and in getting it right first time, which I’m confident we will achieve.

“This good rating has been achieved because of the hard work of our officers and staff."

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Stephen Mold, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner said: "I am really pleased with this achievement, this has been a key area for concern which I asked the Force to focus on through our accountability process. This was a job well done.“