Force response to incidents with children 'poor'

Derbyshire Police has been told by inspectors its reponse to incidents involving children is "poor" and improvements need to be made.

His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) said the force did not adequately recognise risks to young people and "doesn't always respond to those risks adequately".

Inspectors have issued the force with an "accelerated cause for concern", requiring it to make improvements within the next three months

Derbyshire Police said it accepted the report and changes were already being implemented.

His Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary Roy Wilsher said: "During our inspection, we found the response to incidents that involve children was poor.

"Officers and staff in the centralised contact management centre didn't always recognise risks, and we found examples of the constabulary grading risk inaccurately, which negatively affected its response to incidents that involved children.

"For example, we found the initial response was inadequate in 27 of the 48 case files we audited – with long delays in officers attending incidents and, in some cases, children left at risk of harm because additional safeguarding measures weren't considered.

"The constabulary needs to make sure its risk assessments for children are appropriate in all cases, supervisors routinely review all incidents involving children, and investigations into cases that involve children are effective from the first point of contact.

"I will be closely monitoring its progress."

Derbyshire Police said it had enhanced training to control room staff around risk assessing incidents involving children and brought in twice daily meetings to review all incidents relating to children.

Chief Constable Rachel Swann said: "The findings of this inspection are understandably concerning, and I want to be clear that we accept them in full.

"Where the inspectorate has identified that our response to incidents involving children has not been good enough, we recognise the seriousness of that and the impact this can have on children and families.

"HMICFRS has required us to produce a detailed improvement plan within 28 days, and that work is already under way.

"I want to reassure the public that we are absolutely committed to improving our service to children and young people.

"We will be open about where we need to do better, and we will act at pace to make the improvements that children in Derbyshire rightly expect and deserve."

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