Our Work: HMIC
Inspections and Assessments
The formal inspection process has long been a core Inspectorate activity, through which HM Inspectors of Constabulary conduct detailed examinations of those areas of policing organisation and practice judged to be central to the efficient and effective discharge of the policing function.
A new methodology, Baseline Assessment, has recently been deployed. HMIC has long kept its methodology for inspection under review. In 2002 we identified a need to rethink the conventional formal inspection methodology used at force level in the light of the police reform programme; new business in the form of efficiency plans, BVR inspections and BCU inspections; comprehensive performance assessments; and pressures to undertake more cross-cutting work across the Criminal Justice System.
Of these, perhaps the most pressing was the impact of the police reform programme. Although aspects of it have proved contentious, the broad thrust of the reform initiative is supported by the whole Service. Although HMIC is an independent inspectorate, and not a Home Office policy unit, we are a lead player in all of the key discussions and are committed to the scale and nature of the improvements which the reforms will promote. So, it is vital that our inspection regime supports, and continues to shape the development of, these reforms.
HMIC's bringing together a range of quantitative and qualitative information and judgements allows us to compile a comprehensive assessment of each force, the Baseline Assessment. This generates a bespoke, three-year review programme for each force, with areas of critical weakness or under-performance being made subject to a focused inspection. A key point is that this programme is synchronised with the force’s own assessment of where its strengths and weaknesses lie, and its proposals for tackling the latter. Where a force is performing well, the inspection activity is simply to analyse, learn and disseminate good practice. Where a force has a sound action plan to improve an area of under-performance, the inspection activity may simply be to keep a watching brief, unless HMIC’s help is requested. The Baseline Assessment thus promotes what can be seen as a shared agenda for improvement.
The first Baseline Assessment reports were published in 2004. The next series will be available in October 2005, and thereafter published annually each October.
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Details of other inspections – of Best Value Reviews and Basic Command Units; Police National Computer audits; Personnel and Training activity; and Joint Area Inspections - can be found elsewhere in this site.
