Police need to improve vetting and complaints process

Wiltshire Police's vetting process creates a significant corruption risk, a watchdog has ruled

A police force needs to improve how it investigate complaints and allegations of misconduct, according to a watchdog.

The findings from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (MICFRS) follow an assessment of Wiltshire Police earlier this year.

Inspectors also ruled the force needs to improve its vetting of officers and staff, how it tackles potential corruption and upholding professional behaviour standards.

Deputy Chief Constable Mark Cooper said: "We welcome the transparency and rigour of the HMICFRS inspection process – now, more than ever, it is right that this area of our business is independently scrutinised."

The report found that Wiltshire Police did not always carry out vetting enquiries when members of its workforce reported changes of living circumstances.

"It only carries out checks when the individual lives at the same property. This is a significant corruption risk," the report stated.

More work is needed on how the force monitors the use of its IT systems, inspectors added.

It said the force should make sure that it can fully monitor all of its computer systems, including mobile data, to proactively identify data breaches, protect the force's data and identify computer misuse.

Requires improvement

Responding to the report, Mr Cooper said inspectors outlined a number of areas the force needs to tackle.

"These included improving our quality assurance processes to review vetting decisions, speed up the time it takes to investigate and finalise complaints and conduct cases and improve how we collect and assess counter-corruption intelligence.

"It is important to note that the inspection was carried out at the start of this year and a number of things have changed, been introduced or developed since," he added.

Kathryn Stone, His Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary, said it was "positive" to see the force had "maintained effective relationships with internal and external networks", but improvements need to be made.

"We were disappointed to find the force requires improvement in all areas of our inspection.

"It does not have an effective quality assurance process to review vetting decisions. And it needs to improve the speed it takes to investigate and finalise complaints and conduct cases," she added.

Chiefs at the Police and Crime Commissioner said they would continue to closely monitor Wiltshire Police's progress

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson said the "absence of robust quality assurance and delays in handling complaints" within the force are unacceptable.

"The public rightly expects their police force to operate with integrity, transparency and accountability," he said.

He went on to explain he was "reassured" all recommendations have been addressed.

Mr Wilkinson said he would continue to monitor the force's progress and provide updates to the public.