HMIC report: Police forces in England and Wales failing to meet basic standards

Many police forces in England and Wales still need to make improvements in the way they investigate crime and other "basics" of policing, according to His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary (HMIC).

In her annual report, Michelle Skeer also said too many victims were not receiving the quality of service they should expect.

Forces continue to struggle when it comes to gathering evidence, identifying and progressing lines of inquiry, and keeping victims updated on their cases, she added.

There was progress in neighbourhood policing and in some of the work carried out by regional organised crime units that focus on offenders across multiple local police force boundaries, the report said.

The report continued that the greatest strength of policing is its workforce, with the vast majority of officers showing professionalism and courage.

HMIC inspects all 43 police forces in England and Wales on a two-year cycle.

Out of 13 forces assessed in the current cycle, including Merseyside, Cumbria, and Devon & Cornwall, none received a good or outstanding rating for investigating crime or providing a safe and lawful custody environment.

The other forces assessed were Suffolk, Staffordshire, Thames Valley, West Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, Surrey, Wiltshire, North Yorkshire, Humberside and Kent.

The report says "too many forces still weren't getting the basics right or providing the public with a consistently good service in the areas that matter most to victims".

Beyond weaknesses in investigations, the report also highlights gaps in how forces respond to the public, including delays in handling emergency and non-emergency calls, and in response times to incidents.

It also raises concerns about the safeguarding of victims, noting inconsistencies in recognising vulnerability and failure to properly deploy resources appropriately when people are reported missing.

Skeer said it was a "pivotal moment for policing" and said "there are still areas where performance is not good enough".

"If managed correctly, I firmly believe that reform presents a significant opportunity to deliver a better service for both the public and those working within policing," she added.

The HMIC report said that evolving crime and threats mean officers deal with more complex and resource-intensive cases.

But the government's planned reforms, including the creation of a National Police Service to take over counter-terror and fraud investigations could alleviate some of the pressure facing local units, Skeer wrote.

Policing minister Sarah Jones said: "Our plans will tackle the long-term challenges in the policing system and bring it into the modern day.

"We are investing in more neighbourhood policing, raising standards and making better use of technology to make sure local policing works for local people."

Responding to the report, the charity Victim Support said: "Police forces are undoubtedly under immense pressure, but they must get the basics right."

Chief executive Katie Kempen added: "It is unacceptable that victims and survivors are paying the price for police failings. Every victim of crime deserves to be treated with respect, to be given access to justice, and to have their needs identified and met."

Growing financial pressure is repeatedly pointed to as increasing the strain on police forces.

Cleveland's police's Chief Constable, Victoria Fuller, recently told the BBC her force has been understaffed and under resourced for years.

"The facts are the facts," she said.

"We have got the highest crime rate in the country. We've had the largest decrease in officers in the country since 2010.

"As a police force, if you were to look at the multiple indices of deprivation, our police force is number one. So we absolutely need more, we need more resources."

An extra £2m targeted funding has since been designated to help Cleveland Police tackle serious crime.

Beyond this, the force will receive up to £197.8m in funding in the 2026-2027 financial year - a 3.7% uplift in cash.

The annual HMIC report comes just months after a different publication by the Police Leadership commission found the system for identifying and developing leaders was too weak, with chief constable roles in England and Wales often attracting a single suitable candidate.

The landmark independent review warned police leadership is not consistently of a high enough standard and requires a fundamental overhaul.

It also pointed to low morale and motivation within the service, recommending reformed recruitment and promotion processes.

Additional reporting by Dan Sales