Monitoring Police Performance

In April, 2009, HMIC took over responsibility for monitoring police performance in England and Wales and the risk to the public.

As part of this, it chairs a regular meeting of policing representatives called the Police Performance Steering Group (PPSG).

At the meetings, HM Chief Inspector is advised what level of support and intervention might be needed in a particular force.

The levels work in stages as follows.

• The normal position is for forces to be monitored locally by their police authority with HMIC watching progress nationally (stage 1).


• If a force consistently underperforms, they are monitored by HMIC (stage 2). If that produces a convincing set of priorities and plans for improvement, the force would be given time to implement necessary changes.


• If there is not a convincing plan and/ or little evidence of sufficient and sustainable improvement, HMIC would undertake or commission a review of whether the force has a coherent improvement plan (stage 3).


• If a force fails to produce a coherent plan and begin to improve, a ‘Public Interest Letter’ is issued (stage 4). This will publicly set a deadline for significant improvement.


• If none of the preceding stages resolve the problem of under performance, HMIC would refer the force to the Home Secretary (stage 5).

See page 22 of HMIC’s business plan 2009-2011 for further information.