The Police Fire and Crime Commissioner has defended her role in monitoring North Yorkshire Police after another report was critical of the force.
As we reported yesterday (Tuesday), a watchdog found some vulnerable children ‘remain at risk unnecessarily’ due to delays in North Yorkshire Police investigations.
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary was following up on its previous report in March 2022 which found the force was ‘not effectively safeguarding children’.
While the inspectorate found progress had been made, it said North Yorkshire Police still needed to improve to keep children safe.
Other recent reports have also been critical of North Yorkshire Police. Last September, the inspectorate said use of force in the police’s custody suites is a “cause for concern”.
And in March, auditors detailed a catalogue of vehicle mismanagement.
These have all happened under the watch of North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Zoë Metcalfe.
And during a live meeting hosted online by Ms Metcalfe yesterday, a York resident asked her: “What will she do differently to prove to the public she is elected by that she is doing her job?”
Ms Metcalfe replied: “We were led to believe that North Yorkshire Police were in a better position than they ultimately were and we accept this.
“And as a result, we have entirely overhauled our scrutiny and assurance process, I have clearly set out how I will hold North Yorkshire Police to account for delivery.”
She added: “I will expect to receive assurances and, more importantly now than ever, evidence that the services are on track with their plans.”
‘Totally unacceptable’
Earlier in the meeting, Ms Metcalfe took senior leaders of North Yorkshire Police to task about the latest inspectorate report.
She said: “The reinspection report outcomes are totally unacceptable. Given the North Yorkshire Police had a year to improve and North Yorkshire Police, I believe, have let down the most vulnerable in our society, not enough has been done and there is simply no excuses.”
Watch the broadcast on this link
North Yorkshire Chief Constable, Lisa Winward said: “First and foremost, and most importantly, I’d like to offer a sincere apology to every member of a family or a child who has been failed as a result of some of our improvements not being made swiftly enough.
“We still need to improve in some areas. We need better outcomes for children.
“You’ll have seen the case studies in the report, but there has been some notable progress, identifying children’s vulnerability, good safeguarding referrals, good work with partners, and then the improvements in the force control room in terms of how we’re answering calls.
“Despite that, we haven’t made all of the progress that we need to do to complete the action plan.”