Police concern over recording of crime

CHESHIRE Police are working to find out why HM Inspectors of Constabulary believe they have been under-recording crime in the county.
They say only last month, a report from independent auditors into incident and crime reporting gave the force a clean bill of health.
HMIC, in an interim report on crime data integrity, said they had identified “serious concerns” about the crime-recording process.
Thirteen police forces, including Cheshire, were put under scrutiny
HMIC found “weak or absent management and supervision of crime-recording, significant under-recording of crime, serious sexual offences not being recorded, and some offenders having been issued with out-of-court disposals when their offending history could not justify it.”
The inspection was designed to show to what extent police-recorded crime information could be trusted.
But HMIC stress that it is an interim report, covering only 13 of 43 police forces. It contains “emerging themes” rather than final conclusions and the final report will not be available until October.
HMIC also point out that their inspection has also identified strengths, such as the correct recording of almost all crimes which are recorded and victims of crime receiving a professional service that is polite, helpful and shows empathy to the needs of the victim.
In a joint statement, Cheshire Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner, John Dwyer, said the force was committed to supporting victims and to accurate data recording.
“When we receive a call for help, that call is always recorded and assessed, and the appropriate response is given. This report from HMIC is not about service delivery, but is about the administrative process of how crime is recorded.
“Our commitment to accurate crime recording is supported by a robust and intrusive audit programme. Last month, the Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable received a commissioned report from independent auditors into incident and crime reporting, which stated that ‘the Commissioner and Chief Constable can take substantial assurance that the controls upon which the organisation relies to manage this area are suitably designed, consistently applied, and effective.’
“The data contained in today’s report does not give this level of assurance, which causes us concern. We are working to understanding why this is.”