'Report cards' reveal need for region's police forces to improve

All four forces in the region – West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and Humberside – have been rated "fair" overall by the police watchdog, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC).

But "report cards" listing strengths and weaknesses, to be put on the internet on Saturday, will show the true picture is more complicated, with some forces performing better than others at tackling crime and raising public confidence.

The region's largest force, West Yorkshire Police, has been told to improve its record on solving serious sexual offences, while Humberside Police has been rated "poor" at boosting confidence and reducing road deaths.

HMIC data shows South Yorkshire Police improved in more areas than any other force in England and Wales last year, and North Yorkshire Police is said to be performing well.

But a letter sent to chief constables by Home Office Minister David Hanson, seen by the Yorkshire Post, suggests that view might not be shared by members of the public.

The letter sets out survey results indicating that, while people living in the West Yorkshire and Humberside force areas believe councils and police are performing strongly in tackling crime and antisocial behaviour, residents of South Yorkshire and North Yorkshire have "some concern".

Internet users will be able to make up their own minds when HMIC's new website www.mypolice.org.uk goes live, bringing together existing inspection data on every force in England and Wales.

HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Denis O'Connor, said there was "much to celebrate" but the website would be "an uncomfortable read for some".

"We are providing the public with information about the risk they face from crime and antisocial behaviour where they live, how good the police are at tackling these risks and how much the police cost.

"It is a one-stop shop for most information the public want about policing, such as how good they are at tackling crime."

West Yorkshire Police chief constable Sir Norman Bettison said the report card was a "useful snapshot" but the method inspectors used to compile it was "dumbing down" improvements.

"The public must be aware," he added, "that HMIC's comparison of, say, dealing with serious crime, gun crime or sexual assault between the major metropolitan forces and more rural, less densely populated, areas of the country slightly skews comparisons in policing performance.

"We can't tell much about the state of policing from the report card...but I do see its value as a powerful tool for the future.

"I can see its use in charting our progress, not against (smaller forces) Cleveland or Dyfed Powys, for example, but against ourselves."

The Yorkshire Post revealed last month how West Yorkshire Police uncovered a catalogue of problems during an internal inspection of its approach to serious sexual offences.

It is one of two areas in which HMIC adjudges West Yorkshire Police to be "poor". The other relates to satisfaction levels among black and ethnic minorities.

HMIC found the force had reduced crime in all categories except burglary, a problem particularly severe in Leeds.

The force had introduced an anti-burglary strategy, Operation Titan, and is putting more officers into its Operation Topaz team, which investigates serious sexual assaults.

A spokeswoman for Humberside Police said it would issue a statement today in response to HMIC's findings.