Police force exits special measures

Chief Constable Chris Noble said it was was "really positive news"

A police force once criticised for its failings has been taken out of special measures.

Staffordshire Police entered into an enhanced level of monitoring in June 2022, but can now return to routine inspections, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) said.

Improvements including how the force identifies vulnerable people at the first point of contact and its investigation standards led to the decision.

Chief Constable of Staffordshire Police Chris Noble said it was "really positive news".

His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary Andy Cooke said he was pleased with the force's progress and added he was reassured by its plans for further improvements.

"Whilst there is still more to do, I have decided to remove the force from our enhanced level of monitoring, known as Engage, and return it to routine monitoring," he said.

"We will continue to inspect the force to make sure the people of Staffordshire are getting the service they deserve from their police force.”

Mr Noble told BBC Radio Stoke his staff had worked incredibly hard and continued to do so and he hoped the news reassured communities.

'Intensely proud'

He said the force had gone back to a local model of policing which was really effective.

"What it means is local officers in particular know their communities, know where there's hotspots of anti-social behaviour or crime, know the local ne'er do wells, build up that local intelligence and can address things that matter for local communities."

Bringing new officers and staff into the organisation had been fundamental, he added.

He said stop and search was up by 20% and it was "focussed not just random" and arrests were up by 31%.

"The vast majority of our improvements have been driven by our own workforce here who are intensely proud of being part of Staffordshire and want our police service to be better," he said.

Last week, inspectors reported weaknesses in the way all West Midlands' forces approached serious and organised crime with each force graded as requiring improvement. West Midlands Police was rated adequate.