Agenda item

1.The report was presented by the Police Crime and Commissioner, Mr Scott. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) was the organisation responsible for independently assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of police forces and fire & rescue services to make communities safer. The PEEL inspection programme was HMICFRS’ regular assessment of the effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy of police forces in England and Wales.

2.There were a number of changes to the PEEL inspection programme from PEEL 2023-25. These included:

·         a transition of the Victim Service Assessment to the Quality Service Review

·         the addition of the custody inspection programme

·         the inclusion of fraud inspection activity

3.The latest Kent PEEL inspection report was published on 9 April 2026 and the PCC informed the Panel Chair and Vice-Chair of its publication on the same day.

4.The inspection assessed how good Kent Police is, and made graded judgements in eight areas of policing. There was no area of Kent Police’s effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy that was graded ‘requires improvement’ or ‘inadequate’.

5.The Commissioner expressed satisfaction at the force’s ‘good’ grading in preventing and deterring crime as well as the quality of its leadership and force management, and was pleased to the way it had developed a diverse and inclusive workforce graded ‘outstanding’.

6.However, the Police and Crime Commissioner also noted the inspection had identified eight Areas for Improvement (AFIs):

·         The need to record officers’ rationales when using force and increase supervisory oversight

·         The expansion of independent scrutiny of stop and search and use of force

·         The need to attend calls for service in line with internal targets

·         The consistent assignment of correct crime outcome types

·         Ensuring that officers take appropriate action and work with multi-agency partners to reduce the risk of harm to vulnerable people

·         Having a consistent approach to the identification and response to locating and safeguarding missing people

·         The need for effective governance for all fraud offences

·         Ensure sufficient capacity to effectively review and support fraud investigation.

7.The PCC believed the overall assessment of Kent Police was positive, as it showed the progress that had been made over the past two years. Neighbourhood policing, which the Panel had supported, was providing communities with a visible and accessible presence, and the contact centre was now one of the best performing in the country. The force also had strong governance, and effectively supported its workforce. He said for the first time in three PEEL inspections, Kent had not received a grading of ‘requires improvement’ or ‘inadequate’.

8.However, he also acknowledged there were still areas that required improvement and that he would monitor and scrutinise them through established accountability mechanisms, including the quarterly Performance & Delivery Board, which was open to Panel Members and the public.

9.In answer to a question, Mr Scott said that the Strategic Prevention Command was working to improve partnership working with local authorities and other organisations, including for example the NHS to ensure mental health related incidents were dealt with appropriately.

10.The Panel’s Vice-Chair asked whether the Commissioner could provide a verbal update at the meeting in July on the plan to address and improve the ‘Responding to the public’ area which was  judged ‘Adequate’?

a.    The Commissioner confirmed that he would provide a verbal update.

RESOLVED: that the Kent and Medway Police and Crime Panel note this report and agree to a further update at their December 2026 meeting.