Merseyside Police has earned an “outstanding” rating for its work in preventing and deterring crime, but the force faces critical challenges in its investigative processes. According to a new inspection report by His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Michelle Skeer, the force requires improvement in how it handles criminal investigations to better serve victims.
Did You Know? The force maintains an above-average number of neighbourhood officers, a strategy that inspectors found has been positive in the ongoing effort to reduce anti-social behaviour and neighbourhood-level crime.
Performance across core categories
The inspection results present a mixed picture of the force’s operational capabilities. While crime prevention is rated as outstanding, the investigation of crime is marked as “requires improvement.” Other areas of the force’s operations, including leadership, management, and the treatment of the public, received a “good” rating. Furthermore, the inspection classified the force as “adequate” in several key areas, such as safeguarding, managing fraud, responding to the public, and providing safe custody.
Why the findings matter
The significance of this report lies in the disconnect between the force’s effective community presence and its capacity to close cases for victims. Michelle Skeer noted that while she was pleased with the force’s performance in keeping people safe and reducing crime, she explicitly stated: “I have concerns about how the force is investigating crime.” This indicates that while the force excels at proactive deterrence, it struggles with the reactive, procedural work necessary to secure justice for victims once a crime has occurred.
What may happen next
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current rating for Merseyside Police’s crime investigation?
The force’s crime investigation is currently rated as “requires improvement.”
In what area is Merseyside Police considered “outstanding”?
The force received an “outstanding” rating for its work in preventing and deterring crime.
How has the force performed in terms of victim outcomes?
The inspection noted that weaknesses in improving outcomes for victims, which were identified in the previous inspection, have seen only a slight increase.
How do you think the balance between visible neighbourhood policing and behind-the-scenes investigative work should be prioritized?
