Latest news with #GloucestershireRapidImprovementPlan
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Gloucestershire Police found ‘inadequate' at protecting children
GLOUCESTERSHIRE Police has been found 'inadequate' at safeguarding children. An inspection by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) said the force was 'inadequate' at responding to children at risk, investigating reports of abuse, neglect and exploitation of children, and in its leadership of child protection arrangements. The inspectorate also said the constabulary 'requires improvement' at assessing risk to children and making appropriate referrals. In its report, it said the constabulary has 'good arrangements' to share information and contribute to joint plans to prevent harm to children. However, the inspectorate identified 'three causes of concern' relating to the constabulary's 'leadership of child protection, how it records incidents when children are missing, and how it investigates incidents involving children'. Gloucestershire Police said these findings will be used to develop an improvement plan. They also outlined the steps they have taken to address these concerns. Some of their actions include launching the Gloucestershire Rapid Improvement Plan (GRIP), putting monthly meetings in place to scruitinise how children are safeguarded, 20 more officers working in investigation teams, and providing more training to officers and staff. They also said they will run a multi-agency child protection conference, bring in advice from the National Police Chief's Council, and have started campaigns to tackle online grooming. Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone, lead for crime, justice and vulnerability, said: "Children and young people are some of the most vulnerable members of society and it's essential we do everything we can to keep them safe. "We accept HMICFRS' findings and recognise we have work to do to address the concerns identified in its report and to deliver the improvements required. "The steps we've already taken will help us ensure we've the necessary specialist skills and resources in place to protect children from harm; to respond to and investigate incidents involving them; and that appropriate leadership and oversight is maintained for all child protection matters. "The safeguarding of children in Gloucestershire is a key priority for the Constabulary and we'll continue to work with HMICFRS, as well as with our partners, to improve." His Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary Michelle Skeer said: "It was positive to see Gloucestershire Constabulary working well with its safeguarding partners, but in other areas, I have concerns about its work to protect children. "I recognise there has been some instability in the senior team, but I have received assurances from the temporary chief constable that leaders are taking the findings very seriously, and are determined to oversee improvements. "I will closely monitor progress in Gloucestershire Constabulary over the coming months."
BBC News
25-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Gloucestershire Police to cut 60 jobs in bid to save £12.3m
A police force is to cut 60 staff jobs in a bid to save £12.3m over the next Constabulary said it would also transfer its mounted capability to West Midlands Police, redeploying its mounted officers."The next 12 months are going to be tough and involve some really difficult choices," said temporary Chief Constable Maggie cuts, which include reducing the number of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), come as the force announced plans to expand its neighbourhood policing capacity using government funds. Gloucestershire Police is expecting funding from the government as part of its Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee. "However, this will be ring-fenced for neighbourhood policing so it won't assist us with the savings we need to make," said Ms chief constable explained that, despite the cuts, from April the county would see more police officers in both urban and rural areas."In having more on the streets of Gloucestershire, we can respond to and investigate crimes that people are most affected by," she added. Ms Blyth said the Gloucestershire Rapid Improvement Plan aimed to bring "financial and organisational stability".As part of the organisational changes, the force said it would form an updated Neighbourhood service and fill vacancies that would help to bolster its investigations. Ms Blyth explained her team was facing the "changing nature of crime", with 20% of all recorded crime in the county domestic abuse-related and the force receiving 300 referrals a week about online child abuse images. "At the same time [we are] dealing with anti-social behaviour, drugs, burglary," she added. While the force will be losing some PCSOs, Ms Blyth said a "significant number" would be retained as they were "integral" to neighbourhood policing, providing a "valuable link with residents, businesses and other partners".Speaking about the cuts, the acting chief constable said: "As painful as these decisions are - and we know they will have an impact on individuals and teams - they are the only way we can ensure the force's long-term financial stability." Ms Blyth added that the plan was "focused on maintaining police officer numbers on our front line to be sure that we continue to answer 999 calls, investigate crime and be there when you need us".
