HMIC Inspection Methodologies
Basic Command Unit
The new Going Local process (GL3) encompasses and addresses the issues emerging from 'Going Local 2'. There is a particular focus on reducing the burden for performing forces and BCUs, and awarding ‘earned autonomy’ to high performers. HMIC has moved towards this position through the development of a flexible regime incorporating self-assessment and utilising an intelligence-led approach for focusing inspection activity.
Methodologies (Going Local 3)
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Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has completed its initial 5-year programme of BCU inspection ‘Going Local Again’ (GL2). The inspection programme concluded in March 2006, having delivered over 300 unique inspections, reviewing performance across key areas of BCU business while also factoring in the local context in which BCUs operate and identifying opportunities for performance improvement.
Police Reform places the BCU at the forefront of community and neighbourhood policing and will increasingly render BCUs directly accountable to local communities for service delivery. Effective BCU performance in a number of areas, notably neighbourhood policing, crime reduction and detection levels as well as critical incident management, has a direct impact on public confidence and upon the perceived effectiveness and efficiency of individual constabularies. It is therefore vital to continue to scrutinise BCU performance, not least to encourage and sustain continuous improvement across a range of performance areas, but also to identify BCUs in danger of ‘failing’ and then to provide appropriate support/intervention.
BCU inspection will therefore continue to be part of the regulatory landscape and represents an essential corporate governance and performance management tool. That said, HMIC recognise that there are opportunities to improve inspection activity and work has been ongoing since October 2004, researching views relating to the efficacy of GL2 and considering options to update and modernise the process.
As a result of feedback from a national consultation exercise, HMIC intend to reduce the burden of inspectorial activity on BCUs and forces, streamline and focus such activity where it is likely to add most value as well as reduce overall costs. There is a particular focus on reducing the burden for performing forces and BCUs, and awarding ‘earned autonomy’ to such high performers. The new model is focused and yet flexible and is risk-based and proportionate and is also linked to the Baseline Assessment process. HMIC are also working to develop synergy with current baseline process and will review the inter-connection if and when the force-level assessment process changes (ie, if/when strategic forces become the model for the future).
There are four core elements:
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Initial selection based on performance data utilising a NIM intelligence led process.
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Self Assessment followed by review and confirmed or deferred inspection.
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Inspection, which will largely follow the old model, although an additional feature is a mandatory leadership audit that every BCU selected for inspection will be expected to undertake. Co-ordination and analysis will however be managed by HMIC.
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Notional contract and follow-up activity.
Details can be found in the BCU inspection handbook which is available on the HMIC website or enquires may be made via local HMIC regional offices.
The new process will commence in October 2006 and in the interim HMIC will be conducting training across the regions to ensure that BCU inspectors are updated and conversant with the new process. Inspection activity in the interim will be conducted at the discretion of regional HMIs, in consultation with force lead staff and BCU inspectors.
