Basic Command Unit (BCU) Reports

There are over 300 basic command units (BCUs) in England and Wales and no two are alike. They vary in size from over 1000 officers to just under 100; some serve densely populated, ethnically diverse inner cities, while others cover vast tracts of sparsely populated countryside. What they do share are some key aims and objectives, specifically to work with partner agencies in reducing crime and disorder in their areas, and to do so with integrity.

Scrutiny of police performance is shifting from overall force perfromance to that of individual BCUs, recognising that policing is essentially a locally delivered service.

Ministers have decided upon a nationwide rolling programme of BCU Inspections that focus on performance and leadership, intended to help enhance performance and spread good practice.

Aims of BCU Inspections

• Promoting effective leadership
• Disseminating good practice
• Identifying inefficiencies
• Providing pointers to enhance performance
• Strengthening the capacity for self-improvement
• Leaving behind a BCU management team that has learnt about itself and is even more committed to self-improvement.

Reports of BCU performance are shown on the All Reports page for each Force. To go to these pages select your police force in the Force Finder search on this page.