South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Dr Alan Billings, has responded to the latest HMICFRS report, Police performance: Getting a grip, which states police forces have ‘improved in several areas in recent years, but the public is still being failed too often’.

In this new report, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) highlight the progress forces are making in recording crime. It is essential that police are identifying crime and accurately recording it. There has been some progress with an estimated 80.5 per cent of all crime being recorded (excluding fraud) in 2014 rising to 92.4 per cent at the end of the 2021/2022 inspections.

“This is one area where South Yorkshire police have been commended by HMI in their most recent inspection,” Dr Billings notes.

However, the inspectorate has found that some forces are failing to properly understand and manage their own performance.

In South Yorkshire, the report highlights promising practice in how training is delivered on recording crimes, crime prevention education for children and older people, and using innovations in technology to plan how they respond to growing demand for service.

South Yorkshire’s force was also praised for innovative practice in investigating domestic abuse cases and referrals for violent offenders.

Responding to the report, Dr Billings said: “Whilst the report overall may make for unsettling reading in some force areas, I’m pleased to see that some good practice is commended in South Yorkshire. The dedication to training and developing officers, and a commitment to adopting new technologies in responding to incidents, is highlighted by the Inspectorate.

“Trust and confidence in policing is paramount and I am satisfied that the public in South Yorkshire can expect a robust service from this county’s force, which is echoed in this report.”

Read the full report here.