Force told to expand stop-and-search scrutiny
BBCA police force should "expand its independent scrutiny of stop-and-search" incidents, inspectors have found.
His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) reported that an independent panel for reviewing Kent Police body-worn video had seen only 11 stop-and-search cases in a year.
The inspectorate graded the force as "adequate" in five assessed aspects of policing, "good" in two areas and "outstanding" in one area.
Deputy Chief Constable Peter Ayling said Kent Police was "already focused on areas we can improve to ensure we provide the best service possible to our communities".
HMICFRS said in its report that the independent panel, made up of volunteers, had only reviewed four use of force cases in the same 12-month period.
"Given the time between meetings and the low numbers of cases being reviewed, this is an insufficient level of independent scrutiny," it said.
In 14 out of 20 use of force cases reviewed by HMICFRS, the documents provided "didn't contain sufficient detail or rational to justify why the officers had used force, the level of force or the specific tactic used".
Inspectors said Kent Police should "record officers' rationales when using force and increase supervisory oversight".
They wrote that officers understood how to use stop-and-search powers "appropriately and with justified grounds".
Inspector Roy Wilsher said he was "pleased with several aspects of the performance of Kent Police in keeping people safe, reducing crime and giving victims an effective service".
The force "improved its control room performance", according to the report, but "regularly misses attendance time targets and should improve how quickly officers attend calls".
"This delayed response can lead to the force missing opportunities to safeguard victims or collect evidence," inspectors said.
The inspection also found the force "should improve how it identifies and prioritises vulnerable people for referral to other agencies" and needed to "respond more consistently when locating and safeguarding missing people".
The report highlighted "innovative" trialling of livestreaming body-worn video that supervisors could access and use of forensic healthcare practitioners to help obtain medical evidence from domestic abuse victims.
A project to reduce knife crime had involved more than 100 young people and seen 573 knives had been "exchanged for a safer alternative", according to inspectors.
The force was rated "outstanding" for developing a diverse and inclusive workforce.
DCC Ayling said inspectors "highlighted many examples of good practice, especially in regard to the way we prevent and deter crime".
Kent Police was "one of a very small number of forces where not a single area was found to be inadequate", he said.
Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.
