HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS)

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) independently assesses the effectiveness and efficiency of police forces and fire and rescue services to make communities safer. In preparing our reports, we ask the questions that the public would ask, and publish the answers in accessible form. We use our expertise to interpret the evidence and make recommendations for improvement.

Statement of purpose:

Making communities safer.

What we do

At HMICFRS, we inspect, monitor and report on the efficiency and effectiveness of the police and FRSs with the aim of encouraging improvement.

By providing accessible information on the performance of forces and FRSs, we allow their public, and peers, to see how they are doing. This will place pressure on those forces and FRSs requiring improvement in aspects of policing and fire and rescue to raise their game.

We will always try to see policing and fire and rescue through the public’s eyes. We will use consumer ‘watchdog’ tactics, such as mystery shopping, and ask the public, in surveys, what they think about policing and fire and rescue and where they want to see improvements.

Our reports are clear, jargon-free, accessible, measured, objective, statistically reliable and authoritative.

We also continue to provide high-quality professional advice to the police and FRSs, using experienced officers and other subject-matter experts to identify the best practice from which all forces and FRSs can learn to improve their performance. We encourage operational excellence and a good deal for the public in terms of value for money.

We carry out many police force and fire and rescue service inspections and visits on a regular and rolling basis, and publish our findings on our website. Our reports on broad policing and fire and rescue themes and specific subjects – from terrorism and serious organised crime to custody arrangements – can all be found in the publications section.

Much of our police work relates to the mainstream police forces in England and Wales, together with the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the British Transport Police. However, we also inspect other law enforcement bodies, including the National Crime Agency and HM Revenue and Customs. Our fire and rescue inspections focus on the effectiveness, efficiency and people of the 44 FRSs in England.

Values:

• Respect – we respect and value all those we work with, and the contribution that they make.
• Honesty – we are truthful at all times.
• Independence – we are objective in all we do, without bias towards or against anyone; we are independent of the police service and government, and act only in the public interest.
• Integrity – we act ethically and openly in all we do.
• Fairness – we treat everyone – both within and outside HMICFRS– fairly.

The reports

You can find HMICFRS’s inspection reports on our website.

The chief inspector for HMICFRS