A new report has been published today by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue.
Inspectors say at the time of their inspection, the force had 530 applications waiting to be processed.
There were a further 439 designated posts where the postholder
had recruitment vetting, but not the management vetting clearance required.
A further 22 people in designated posts had expired management vetting.
Inspectors say the force doesn’t have a full understanding of the risks associated with having this many designated postholders without management vetting clearance.
It also acknowledges that the Surrey force isn’t taking effective steps to prioritise higher-risk cases when it should do.
Surrey Police T/Deputy Chief Constable Tanya Jones has told us;
“As a Force, it is our commitment to act ethically and with the highest standards. As such, we welcome today’s report as an important insight into current effectiveness in these areas.
“When police officers, police staff, or volunteers, are involved in misconduct or criminality, it has a direct impact on public trust and confidence and, in turn, our legitimacy to fight crime, protect people, and be there for everyone who needs us.
“While it is positive that the HMICFRS identified good practice, particularly in our ability to tackle potential corruption, we fully accept the findings in the
report and recognise there are significant areas for improvement highlighted.
“We are working hard on improving these areas, with advancements already being made since the inspection. We will therefore prioritise these recommendations, make the necessary improvements and be transparent about our progress with our people, and the public.”
