Today (10 April) His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has released a report following an inspection into Derbyshire Constabulary’s child protection arrangements.
Following the inspection in March the force has been notified of the following area of accelerated concern:
- The constabulary doesn’t adequately recognise risks to children, and it doesn’t respond to those risks effectively.
Derbyshire Constabulary fully accepts these findings and now has three months to put in place a plan to tackle the issues that the inspection has found.
Prior to the inspection the force had already completed a number of actions, including the creation of a new team within the Force Control Room to give incidents involving children further reviews, and the increasing use of video appointments which has seen significant recent investment.
Following the inspection the force is delivering further enhanced training to control room staff around risk assessing incidents involving children, twice daily meetings to review all incidents relating to children and using all available resources effectively to ensure children are safeguarded.
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.”
“Safeguarding children is one of the most important responsibilities we hold as a police service. While there is evidence of committed staff, strong partnership working and areas of effective practice, the inspection has rightly highlighted that this has not been delivered consistently enough, particularly at the earliest point of contact when children may be most vulnerable and we are taking immediate and decisive action.
“HMICFRS has required us to produce a detailed improvement plan within 28 days, and that work is already underway. I have also ensured that there is direct senior oversight of this work, with clear accountability at Chief Officer level. Progress against the improvement plan will be closely monitored, both internally and by HMICFRS.
“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.”
