Cheshire Constabulary should make sure there are effective deployment decisions about scheduled incidents
As part of our victim service assessment, we found that the constabulary didn’t have agreed and set attendance times for scheduled incidents. In our audit, we found that some scheduled incidents had significant delays in response. No re-THRIVE (threat, harm, risk, investigation, vulnerability and engagement) was completed to reassess the risk, and no contact was made with the caller to tell them about delays or to check if any circumstances had changed. In 23 of the 34 cases we reviewed, we found that there was effective and appropriate supervision when needed for deployment decisions. In April 2024, which was before we carried out our victim service assessment, the constabulary set up an incident demand analysis group to review performance in scheduled incidents. This was because the constabulary had identified performance concerns. Through this work, the constabulary introduced force control centre supervisor reviews at 6, 12 and 18 hours after the initial call. Since receiving our feedback, the constabulary has made changes to the Saab SAFE system. These should make it easier for staff in the force control centre to identify scheduled incidents in the queue that need a risk review, and to contact the caller. The constabulary has also made evening appointments available to improve the service for scheduled incidents. The constabulary planned to introduce a new scheduled incident standard by November 2024. It includes a clear time limit on attendance, regular risk assessment and caller contact processes, and clearly defined performance measures. It also includes a Microsoft Power BI dashboard for scheduled incidents, similar to the system in place for grade 2 response incidents.
As part of our victim service assessment, we found that the constabulary didn’t have agreed and set attendance times for scheduled incidents. In our audit, we found that some scheduled incidents had significant delays in response. No re-THRIVE (threat, harm, risk, investigation, vulnerability and engagement) was completed to reassess the risk, and no contact was made with the caller to tell them about delays or to check if any circumstances had changed. In 23 of the 34 cases we reviewed, we found that there was effective and appropriate supervision when needed for deployment decisions. In April 2024, which was before we carried out our victim service assessment, the constabulary set up an incident demand analysis group to review performance in scheduled incidents. This was because the constabulary had identified performance concerns. Through this work, the constabulary introduced force control centre supervisor reviews at 6, 12 and 18 hours after the initial call. Since receiving our feedback, the constabulary has made changes to the Saab SAFE system. These should make it easier for staff in the force control centre to identify scheduled incidents in the queue that need a risk review, and to contact the caller. The constabulary has also made evening appointments available to improve the service for scheduled incidents. The constabulary planned to introduce a new scheduled incident standard by November 2024. It includes a clear time limit on attendance, regular risk assessment and caller contact processes, and clearly defined performance measures. It also includes a Microsoft Power BI dashboard for scheduled incidents, similar to the system in place for grade 2 response incidents.