Specialist police teams working to tackle serious and organised crime on Tyneside are struggling with their workloads, inspectors have found.
A report published today by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) examined how well North East police forces deal with the scourge of organised crime as well as how the region's organised crime unit operates.
The police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy (PEEL) inspection found Northumbria Police to be 'good' at tackling organised crime, but highlighted that work needed to be done to make sure some specialist teams had the resources they needed to meet demands.
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Durham Constabulary was rated as 'outstanding'.
Northumbria Police is praised in the report for its creative approach to understanding crime data to identify areas most affected by organised crime and decide where to focus activity. And a number of successful ongoing operations were also highlighted. However, inspectors said they were "concerned" to find that three specialist teams were "struggling" with their workloads.
It said that Northumbria's Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT) wasn’t able to cope with the volume of investigations being referred to it, which could mean opportunities to safeguard victims were missed.
The report says: "This means there could be hidden vulnerability not being identified and opportunities to safeguard people being missed.
"Since our inspection, the force has prepared a detailed action plan to address this problem. However, it is too early to assess the effectiveness of the measures.."
The report also says Northumbria's covert authorities bureau was "overwhelmed with the volume of work" concerning the acquisition of communications data.
Inspectors said: "This is a very small unit that carries out a vital function. We concluded that it is notably understaffed."
Northumbria Police was also praised for the way it has used the 'Clear, Hold, Build' strategy which aims to tackle serious and organised crime over the long term by focusing on areas being significantly affected by serious and organised crime.
The Chronicle reported earlier this year how Northumbria Police was piloting the strategy, which aims to help communities become more robust to reduce the threat organised crime can pose them, in Ashington, Northumberland, Southwick in Sunderland and the Benwell area of Newcastle.
Operation Momentum, in Ashington, was singled out for praise.
The report said: "Operation Momentum is one part of the Clear, Hold, Build work that has focused on one geographical area of the force identified as being significantly affected by organised crime. The force created a team of detectives and neighbourhood officers, supported by intelligence personnel, to tackle the problems in this area arising from the activity of two OCGs.
Northumbria Police's head of crime, Det Chief Supt Craig Metcalfe, said: “As a force, tackling serious and organised crime is a priority and it is great to see the extensive work we carry out in this area recognised so positively.
“The findings highlighted within the report are a testament to the fantastic efforts made each and every day by our officers, staff and volunteers who are determined to make a real and lasting difference.
“We are absolutely committed to pursuing offenders and dismantling their organisations, while safeguarding the vulnerable and protecting our communities.
“We also want to prevent people from becoming involved in this type of offending, so it was pleasing to see the work we carry out to divert young people away from such a life recognised."
And Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness added: “The fight against serious and organised crime is very much on in Northumbria and I am pleased recent successes have gained the recognition they deserve in this report.
“There is great determination from officers in our region to catch those at the top who are masterminding the criminal activity that brings misery and distress to others including entire communities.
“For me, the real success is the recognition of the prevention work that is happening. Putting a stop to vulnerable young people being drawn into crime in the first place is the absolute focus for me and prevention work by officers and my Violence Reduction Unit is key to the fight against crime. I’m confident areas for development are already being addresses and I see this area of work going from strength to strength for Northumbria Police. It’s a well done from me to all involved.”
"The Operation Momentum team has reduced the threat from these groups through enforcement activity, including over 40 warrants and 500 arrests. The team is also implementing safeguards to protect the vulnerable. "
The PEEL inspection report also looked at the work of the the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROU), formerly known as NERSOU, which consists of three forces - Cleveland Police, Durham Constabulary and Northumbria Police.
NEROU was found to be 'adequate' at tackling serious and organised crime.
The unit's Cyber Crime Unit was singled out for praise, in particular work it does to steer young people away from computer crime.
And the report says "NERSOU has excelled in developing and maintaining good relationships with regional partners."
However, the report recommended improvements to its leadership structure saying that a single chief officer should be appointed to lead the regional response to serious and organised crime and improve consistency throughout the region.
Inspectors also found that NEROU IT systems "aren’t integrated well enough", meaning NEROU personnel need to access and piece together information from several IT systems.
Some NEROU teams also do not have enough staff to support investigations, the report says.
A spokeswoman for the NEROCU said: “We are pleased the inspection report has praised a range of innovative initiatives we carry out to protect our communities from serious and organised crime.
“The way we disrupt organised criminals and fight the threat of cybercrime through education received recognition and our approach to courier fraud, where some of our most vulnerable are targeted, was identified as national best practice.
“It is particularly pleasing that the report highlighted how we excel at developing and maintaining good relationships with the police forces in the partnership and wider law enforcement agencies – which is absolutely fundamental in the fight against serious and organised crime.
“We do recognise there were some areas for development, including around governance. We are not complacent around these and they are being taken forward.
“We can assure our communities that we are committed to working collaboratively as a region to keep the North East safe.”
In praising Durham Constabulary the report says: "The force has the right systems, processes, people and skills to tackle serious and organised crime (SOC). The OCG (organised crime group) disruption team, and extremely effective relationships with partner organisations, reduce the threat from serious and organised crime."
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