HMICFRS: PEEL spotlight report The Hard Yards: Police-to-police collaboration (thematic inspection)
Response from: Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Hampshire
While Hampshire Constabulary was not a part of this thematic inspection, we value the findings and outcomes, and any learning points on which we can implement. Collaboration with other forces is essential and the geography of Hampshire from both rural and urban, and our vast coastline means we often rely upon the support of our neighbouring forces to support more complex organised gang activity. The close proximity to London, the ports and airports here in Hampshire again add another dimension to crime opportunity.
We welcome the findings for the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) to consider how collaboration knowledge can be developed and how forces can be supported better by the College of Policing, the NPCC and central government to allow forces to compare good practice more effectively.
A core objective for both the OPCC and the force is working to keep our communities safer. Through OPCC support, we are able to work alongside our Constabulary colleagues who focus on a threat, harm and risk factors, while we at the OPCC can deliver that messaging to the public, while offering support where needed.
Recommendations:
- If forces haven’t yet implemented an effective system to track the benefits of their collaborations, they should use the methodology created by the NPCC, the College of Policing and the Home Office.
OPCC Comment: We will support the force in their collaborative approaches, and provide scrutiny on behalf of the public to ensure effective and cost efficient collaborations are in place.