Page 20 - Federation Magazine: April/May 2018

Force makes ‘major

improvements’ in

tackling organised

crime but is

‘inadequate’ at

protecting the

vulnerable

he Force has been praised for making work and commitment of everyone involved “While this element of the inspectors’
‘major improvements’ in its ability to in those improvements. report is troubling, I must also make the
Ttackle serious and organised crime by “But the report’s critical comments point that this is another sign of how the
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary about the Force’s ability to protect cuts to policing budgets are having a
and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS). vulnerable people have caused great concern detrimental impact on the service we are
Yet while those findings were welcomed and there has been an immediate reaction able to provide for the public.
by West Midlands Police Federation acting to try to improve that service. “Our members are working incredibly
chair John Williams, he said an ‘inadequate’ “Thankfully, that has had a positive early hard trying to cope with increased demand
rating for the way the Force protects effect and those measures will be on-going despite a significant drop in their numbers
vulnerable people had caused great concern now. We will be driven and single-minded to but there are only so many of them to go
and that work was already underway to provide a better level of protection for those around and they are struggling to maintain
make immediate improvements. people in society who are vulnerable. an effective service to some of the most
In the latest round of PEEL (police
effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy)
inspections, the Force was judged: Our members are working incredibly
l ‘good’ at preventing crime and tackling “
anti-social behaviour hard trying to cope with increased
l ‘good’ at investigating crime and
reducing re-offending demand despite a significant drop in
l ‘inadequate’ at protecting vulnerable
people, and their numbers but there are only so
l ‘good’ at tackling serious and organised
crime. many of them to go around and they
John explained: “I am pleased that the
inspectors have recognised the action we
have taken towards tackling organised crime.
Officers have been praised for the way they service to some of the most vulnerable
have improved their understanding of
serious crime threats and there are now people in our communities.
effective methods in place to disrupt are struggling to maintain an effective “
organised criminals. That is down to the hard

20 federation April/May 2018 www.westmidspolfed.com