England Police Forces Require Improvement in Vetting, Standards, Corruption Controls

Recent inspections by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) have found that Surrey, Sussex, and Hampshire Police forces require improvement in vetting procedures, professional standards, and anti-corruption efforts. All three forces face significant backlogs in vetting applications and lack sufficient staffing to meet demand, putting some personnel in roles without appropriate clearance. Surrey Police was judged good at tackling corruption but needs to enhance vetting and monitoring capabilities. Sussex Police's anti-corruption unit was found understaffed, with delays in complaint handling and computer system monitoring, though improvements have been initiated following previous reviews. Hampshire Police's vetting team was criticized for failing to identify adverse information in applications and for insufficient analysis of outcomes regarding protected characteristics. Each force has acknowledged the findings and committed to addressing the highlighted issues to maintain public trust and uphold professional standards.