Report praises police department

8:39am Tuesday 24th April 2001

THE Scientific Support Department of Essex Police has been praised in a Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) report.

The report contains the findings from an inspection in January and focuses on sickness management, dog training, scientific support, professional standards and crime audits.

The department was praised for its strong degree of leadership and commitment to deliver a high quality service.

Since the inspection the department has continued to adopt best practice and look for new and more advanced techniques in solving crime.

Essex Police was also congratulated on its approach to dog training following the dog cruelty trial in 1998.

The report acknowledged that substantial changes have been made to dog training since then and the inspector was impressed with the openness and transparency under which the unit now operates.

Sickness levels are still a concern although the report refers to the moves being taken to improve policies and procedures since the last visit.

An attendance policy and the appointment of sickness co-ordinators have already been implemented in the force and clear five-year targets for reducing sickness have been set out in the 2000-01 policing plan.

The report made two specific recommendations covering the need for Essex Police to become more proactive in sickness prevention and to review the dog section visitor's scheme to ensure it is in line with national policy and guidance.

Chief Constable David Stevens said: "We welcome this report as it's essential that the performance of Essex Police is subject to external scrutiny. The inspection has identified some areas where there is room for improvement and these comments and recommendations will be taken on board.

"We are equally pleased, however, to see that the report acknowledges the wealth of hard work that has been undertaken since the last inspection, and in particular highlights the good work of Scientific Support and praises the dog section for renewing public confidence."

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