Our approach to monitoring forces

This document sets out the approach HMIC takes to monitoring the police forces of England and Wales.

The monitoring of forces is integral to the HMIC Business Plan 2012/13. In addition, the Home Secretary has advised Parliament that HMIC will monitor forces and escalate serious concerns to ministers; and Her Majesty’s Inspectors have a statutory duty to keep abreast of complaints and misconduct.

The purpose of monitoring

Monitoring enables HMIC to identify those areas which, in its professional judgement, might present significant risks to the public. Monitoring will inform our risk-based inspection programme. HMIC will escalate serious concerns about performance to ministers and, from November 2012, police and crime commissioners (PCCs).

How HMIC will monitor forces

1. HMIC will judge whether we have serious concerns, independently and professionally, following a consideration of performance in key areas.
2. We will consider efficiency and effectiveness.
3. We will escalate serious concerns about performance to ministers and, from November 2012, PCCs.

Monitoring enables HMIC to focus our resources on those areas that appear to present the greatest risk, so optimising the return on the investment in the Inspectorate. More details on our approach to monitoring can be found in HMIC’s approach to monitoring forces in England and Wales.

The Police Performance Steering Group (PPSG) has been replaced by the Crime and Policing Monitoring Group, which includes representatives from the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Home Office, and the Association of Police Authorities. Information on the PPSG can be found on The National Archives website (new window)