The force needs to show it considers, analyses and evaluates changes to its processes, policies and procedures
PEEL 2025–27: An inspection of Devon and Cornwall Police
Published 3 June 2026PEEL Force Inspection0 recommendations24 areas for improvement
Coverage
Areas for improvement
The force needs to improve its leadership standards, behaviour and culture to make sure its workforce feels valued
The force needs to improve its operating model to make sure it uses resources effectively and promotes collaborative working
The force should make sure that its leaders are accountable and understand their roles
The force needs to improve its understanding of how continuing professional development supports its workforce by developing an effective evaluation process
The force needs to invest in its professional development review process to make sure that its workforce understands the value of recording personal development
The force needs to communicate better with members of its workforce and act on information and feedback to improve their well-being
The force needs to understand why officers and staff may want to leave
The force needs to make sure that officers complete safeguarding referrals for children when they have stopped and searched or used force against them
The force needs to make sure that when officers use force, they record the incidents effectively
The force needs to make sure it collects accurate data to allow it to understand how fairly it is using stop and search
The force needs to better understand and do more to reduce its disproportionate use of stop and search
The force should make sure its supervisors regularly review how officers are using stop and search and use of force powers
The force needs to improve how it manages abstractions to make sure its neighbourhood policing officers can fulfil their roles
The force needs to attend calls for service in line with its published target attendance times
The force should make sure it assesses ongoing risk when incidents are allocated to other departments
The force should make sure that the control room has sufficient oversight of incidents that are held in other areas of the force
The force should make sure that crimes are allocated to appropriately skilled investigators
The force needs to consistently achieve appropriate outcomes for victims
The force needs to improve how it records rapes and crimes committed against victims of domestic abuse
The force needs to effectively manage the preventative orders it applies for
The force needs to protect its communities from the risk of fraud
The force needs to provide effective training for all investigators and call takers and to continuously evaluate its capability to respond to and investigate fraud
The force needs to record fraud in line with national guidance to prevent unnecessary demand