Minutes:
The Assistant Chief Office provided the Panel with an update on the vulnerability inspection carried out by HMIC.
No forces were graded as outstanding, 12 forces, including Durham, were graded as good, 27 forces were graded as requiring improvement and 4 forces were graded as inadequate.
The key findings for Durham were as follows:
The Constabulary had:
· clear and consistently applied processes in place to identify repeat and vulnerable victims.
· robust supervisory processes in place.
· significantly invested in training staff, with over 1000 officers and staff trained in dealing with vulnerability.
· good risk assessments carried out and good understanding of the Victims’ Code.
· well trained call handling staff.
· a clear commitment to tackle Child Sexual Exploitation via a strategy and action plan.
· close working arrangements with partners.
· made progress in areas such as conducting satisfaction surveys andpreparing a domestic abuse problem profile.
In reply to a question from Councillor Allen about how call handlers defined vulnerability, the Assistant Chief Officer replied that call handlers were trained to identify vulnerability.
Resolved:
That the update be noted.