Despite ongoing efforts to rebuild public trust, police forces in England and Wales are still failing to meet the public’s expectations and are letting down too many victims of crime, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Andy Cooke, has reported.
In his annual assessment, Cooke highlighted that police are struggling with basic duties and described the inconsistencies across police forces in responding to the public and investigating crime as “unjustifiable.” He called for urgent improvements, stressing that without fundamental reform to the criminal justice system, victims will continue to struggle to access the justice they deserve.
“The police service in England and Wales is an institution that we, as members of the public, should be able to be proud of. Once again, this year I have been struck by the dedication and professionalism shown by the vast majority of police officers and staff. But the power of the police is dependent on public approval and respect – something which has been damaged over recent years,” Cooke stated.
In his “State of Policing 2023” report, the second since he assumed office in April 2022, Cooke noted that while the level of crime is on a long-term downward trajectory, certain crimes, such as violence against women and girls, remain highly prevalent. He pointed out that high workloads leave many officers feeling undervalued, emphasizing that police forces must better lead and support their officers and staff.
By March 2023, police numbers reached 147,430, the highest since comparable records began, according to the inspectorate. One-third of the workforce is female, and 8.4 per cent come from an ethnic minority background. Cooke praised the government’s uplift programme, which saw over 46,000 new recruits join the force across England and Wales over four years, but he argued that more could have been done to diversify the ranks.
Looking ahead, Cooke recommended that the government abolish its fixed police officer hiring target to allow forces to build a more balanced and effective workforce. He also criticized the current police funding formula as “outdated and unfair,” suggesting that funds should be allocated where they are needed most. Cooke advocated for a return to multi-year funding settlements to give forces the certainty to plan their work effectively. A three-year funding settlement should include a “substantial increase” in capital funding for areas including fleet, estates, and ICT.
The report further recommended that the government grant additional powers to the inspectorate, allowing it to intervene when police forces (and fire and rescue services) do not follow up on recommendations made in their reports. Such changes would require legislation.
On the funding front, the inspectorate also called for a funding uplift to adequately reflect the scope and scale of its work.
The full report is available for public access here.
