Programmed Inspections

Following the learning from Baseline Assessments in 2006 and consultation with the Home Office, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the Association of Police Authorities (APA), HMIC moved from conducting high level inspections across a wide area of policing to concentrating its resources on key areas of risk.

It was decided that HMIC could add greater value by undertaking fewer, but more probing inspections.  Stakeholders agreed with the emphasis on protective services, but requested that Neighbourhood Policing remain a priority for inspection until there is evidence that it has been embedded in everyday police work.

HMIC uses a rigorous and transparent methodology to conduct its inspections and to reach conclusions and judgements.  All evidence was gathered, verified and then assessed against an agreed set of national standards, in the form of Specific Grading Criteria (SGC).  The main purpose of inspection is to drive improvements in policing, not to make judgements. 

Please use the links on the left hand side of this page to find the reports. To find reports on your local police force use the Force Finder search and choose All Reports.