Home Office in firing line over force performance

The Home Office could be held to account over the failings of a police force that has left the public at greater risk of crime than anywhere else in the country.

Ministers have been warned that they could be held responsible for failing to ensure that Nottinghamshire Police was providing an adequate service.

The force’s performance has been criticised by the Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, who had been seeking to replace the current Chief Constable, Julia Hodson, who has been in the post since 2008.

Ministers have also been told that despite attempts by the police inspectorate to raise performance in the Nottinghamshire force, substantial improvement is unlikely over the next year.

Underperformance at the force was first noticed eight years ago, and last week a team of outsiders, including two chief constables, began work in an effort to raise its performance. It has been told to produce an improvement plan by the end of next month after HMIC dismissed an earlier version as not “conveying the necessary sense of urgency”.

In 2004 inspectors were forced to intervene in the force’s daily activities because of concern over the force’s ability to tackle serious crime and because of doubts over the quality of its leadership.

There have been improvements since Ms Hodson became Chief Constable in 2008, but the force has been deemed to be performing poorly in comparison with similar forces for a significant period of time.

A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Police suggested improvement was already happening, saying: “We already know we are having success, with the lowest level of crime since at least 2002.”