GLOUCESTERSHIRE Police is making “huge progress” to address issues highlighted in a critical report, says Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Chris Nelson.

The PCC released a statement last week in response to renewed scrutiny on the force having been rated ‘Inadequate’ across five areas of policing by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Police and Fire Services (HMICFRS) last year.

The spotlight on the constabulary’s “special measures” comes after both Wiltshire Police and the Metropolitan Police were also placed into an advanced stage of monitoring recently.

The force was found to be inadequate in six categories of policing - including supporting victims, investigating crime and protecting vulnerable people - in a PEEL inspection in 2020 and early 2021.

PCC Nelson said: “As far as our Constabulary is concerned, this is old news.

“But while ‘special measures’ can be a misleading term in a policing context, I take these issues very seriously and have been working closely with the Chief Constable to find the resources for more police, to aid the search for solutions. 

“Over the last year, this has helped the Constabulary make huge progress in recording significantly more crimes.

“With the vast majority of reported crimes now being formally recorded, the Force is better at looking after victims, spotting repeat victims and identifying vulnerable victims. 

“The speed at which all these extra crimes are recorded is getting faster but there is still more to do to make sure they are all logged within the first 24 hours – important if subsequent investigations are to have the best chance of success.

“Improving call response times within the Force Control Room is sadly proving much harder to deliver, but over the next six to 12 months, I will continue to be fully focused on supporting the Chief, and holding him to account, so that these problems are all addressed”.