Gwent Police brings too few offenders to justice inspectors say
Gwent Police brings too few offenders to justice inspectors say
It must improve crime investigation and other areas of its work but rates highly for recording crime,
File image of a Gwent Police car
A Welsh police force brings "too few offenders to justice" and has been told to improve its crime investigation. A report from inspectors says Gwent Police is "improving the service it provides" to victims of rape and other serious crime, but doesn't bring enough culprits to justice.
Too many of its investigations lack effective supervision, an inspection report out today (FRI JUNE 27), warns. The force has improved how quickly it answers 999 calls, but still needs to improve how quickly it attends calls and how it manages risk for incidents it can't attend promptly, Chief Inspector of Constabulary Michelle Skeer added.
Looking at the force's performance from 2023 to 2025 inspectors found staff complaining their case loads were too high. One sergeant was responsible for supervising 336 cases and another 247. More junior staff reported that they are sometimes sent to crimes they aren't qualified for.
The Chief Inspector of Constabulary concluded that Gwent Police's overall performance was satisfactory but with three important areas ranked second from last last in five possible gradings awarded and five as only "adequate".
Gwent Police Chief Constable Mark Hobrough
(Image: Jonathon Hill )
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"I am satisfied with some aspects of the performance of Gwent Police in keeping people safe, reducing crime and providing victims with an effective service, but there are areas in which the force needs to improve," Chief Inspector of Constabulary Ms Skeer notes in her introduction to the report.
"The force is improving the service it provides to victims of rape and other serious crime. But overall, it brings too few offenders to justice and too many of its investigations lack effective supervision," the hard hitting 55 page inspection report says.
Crime investigation and protecting vulnerable people along with leadership and force management were all judged to "require improvement", only one step up from the worst ranking of "inadequate".
The force did better in the six other areas judged. It was rated the best possible outstanding for recording crime, particularly crime involving sexual offences and antisocial behaviour.
On the four areas of preventing crime, managing offenders, responding to the public, police powers and public treatment and developing a positive workforce the force was rated second from last "adequate".
But on crime investigation the inspectors found that only 64 of 73 cases they looked at had investigation plans which met national standards. The force had taken appropriate investigative opportunities in only 71 of 99 cases. This meant realistic lines of enquiry, which may have resulted in offenders being identified, apprehended or brought to justice, weren't always followed.
Gwent Police also only effectively supervised 65 of 93 cases examined.
"Many sergeants and inspectors in response teams, neighbourhood policing teams, and criminal investigation departments told us that caseloads were too large. They said they couldn't effectively oversee every investigation. We found several examples of sergeants supervising high numbers of cases," the 55-page inspection report adds.
In November 2024 the force's operational effectiveness board was told that 36 sergeants were overseeing more than 100 criminal investigations each. One response policing sergeant alone was responsible for 247 cases. In the force's virtual response team, one sergeant was responsible for supervising 336 cases.
Many sergeants and inspectors in response teams, neighbourhood policing teams, and criminal investigation departments told inspectors that caseloads were too large. They said they couldn't effectively oversee every investigation.
Worryingly, inspectors also found several cases of rapes, assaults and sexual offences against children hadn't received any apparent supervisory action for weeks at a time.
And the report goes on: "We found too many examples of investigations into serious and complex crimes allocated to staff without the necessary training. The force should make sure that investigators and supervisors are allocated offences which they are suitably trained to deal with. It should also make sure that they have capacity to investigate promptly."
The force also requires improvement in protecting vulnerable people, the inspectors said. The force needs to make sure it complies with national guidance for the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, including meeting disclosure timescales. On the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS), also known as Clare's Law, which allows a member of the public to request information about a partner's past history of domestic violence from the police, Gwent scored worst of all forces in England and Wales .
The force discloses less frequently to applicants than other police forces. In the year ending 30 September 2024, just 22.1 percent of DVDS Right To Know applications to Gwent Police led to disclosures. This is the lowest rate in England and Wales, the inspection report notes.
In the year ending 30 September 2024, the force used arrest to help it to investigate domestic abuse or to protect victims in 34.2 percent of cases. This is lower than the England and Wales rate of 43.4 percent. In the year ending 31 March 2024, Gwent Police recorded 1,982 stalking offences, which equated to 3.3 offences per 1,000 population. Despite this, the force applied for only one interim and one full Stalking Protection Order.
The report goes on to say inspectors found that the force hasn't secured any Sexual Risk Orders (SRO) - these are orders courts impose to protect the public from the risk of sexual harm by placing restrictions on a person's behaviour.
"Vulnerable victims can't yet be confident that the force effectively uses protective tactics and orders to keep them safe," inspectors said, "The force needs systems which provide reassurance that it takes appropriate action to safeguard adults and children at risk of harm," inspector said.
Rating management and leadership as also "requiring improvement" the report said Gwent Police force "should make sure it is effectively managing demand and has the right resources, processes and plans in place to keep communities safe."
But inspectors noted: "During 2024, movement in the chief officer team meant that, at times, more than half its personnel were in temporary promotions. The chief officer team is now more stable and the force continues to develop its senior leaders."
Summing up her team's findings Ms Skeer said: "Gwent Police is investing in the development and diversity of its leaders. It equips its personnel to uphold high standards of behaviour and fair treatment. Reassuringly, feedback from the workforce indicates that the force has created an ethical working environment where supervisors challenge discriminatory behaviour."
"The force is outstanding at recording crime promptly and accurately, particularly crime involving sexual offences and antisocial behaviour. Gwent Police also understands its daily demand well and makes sure that its operational priorities receive focus.
Gwent Police Force rankings from inspectors
Outstanding 1
Crime recording
Requires Improvement
Crime investigation
Protecting vulnerable people
Leadership and management
Adequate
Police powers and treating the public fairly and respectfully.
Preventing and deterring crime and anti social behaviour and reducing vulnerability
Requires Improvement Protecting vulnerable people
Responding to the public
Managing offenders and suspects
Building, supporting and protecting the workforce
* No areas looked at were deemed to be the worst possible "inadequate" or second best "good".
Cashflow
This was not rated by inspectors but on spending the report also notes that for the 2024-25 financial year, Gwent Police force initially forecast£4.62m deficit but this is now £1.68 million, as the Police Settlement provided a higher level of funding than expected.
But the force "will need to find further savings" to meet the forecasted financial deficit of £4.4 million in 2027/28 as per its financial plan.
In the financial year ending 31 March 2024, usable reserve levels stood at £29.8 million. The force told inspectors this will decrease to £21.2 million in the year ending 31 March 2025 and is forecast to reduce further, "which isn't sustainable in the longer term".
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