Force improves its child protection work

10 May 2018

The Force has improved the way in which it protects children, according to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

Inspectors, in a post-inspection review, recognised the Force had:

• invested in training officers and staff about their role to play in safeguarding children;
• improved its approach to child sexual exploitation; and
• introduced an innovative process to record strategy discussions with external partners.

But, while Tiff Lynch, chair of Leicestershire Police Federation, has welcomed the report’s findings, she believes there is still further work to be done.

“The Force has shown it has improved how it keeps children safe from harm. Back in January last year, HMICFRS said it was only demonstrating ‘good’ practice in 29 per cent of the child protection cases it was dealing with,” says Tiff.

“The results of the latest case file audit saw this ‘good’ rating increase to cover 53 per cent of those examined which is a significant improvement. However, it does still mean that we are only achieving that ‘good’ standard in just over half of cases so we know there is still further work to do and I know the Force is going to continue to put measures in place to ensure it continues to improve.

“Child protection is such an important part of what we do that everyone recognises the need to get this right. However, with fewer officers to go around due to funding cuts, annual leave and rest days being cancelled to ensure we can meet demand, officers are under stress coping with the day to day pressures of the job so it is no great surprise that one of the criticisms from HMICFRS was related to poor decision-making.

“We all know that being stressed, tired, over-worked and under pressure does not help anyone’s decision-making processes.”

HM Inspector of Constabulary Zoë Billingham has welcomed the Force’s improvements.

“The senior leadership’s continuing commitment to child protection is now translating into better outcomes for children. I am happy to see that the Force has invested in training and strengthened its partnerships with other agencies, like local councils,” she said.

And she concluded: “Overall, I am most encouraged by the progress we have seen. I am confident that Leicestershire Police will take this momentum and continue to work on further improving outcomes for children.”

Leicestershire police – National child protection post-inspection review 2018