Northumbria Police — Inspection History

Published HMICFRS inspection reports for Northumbria Police: grades, key findings and recommendations over time.

His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) independently inspects police forces in England and Wales. This page collects the published inspection reports we have indexed for Northumbria Police — for the latest PEEL assessment snapshot, see the current HMICFRS rating.

PEEL 2023–2025: An inspection of Northumbria Police

2025-05-14 · peel report

This report sets out the findings for Northumbria Police as part of the HMICFRS assessment of police forces in England and Wales, focusing on police effectiveness, efficiency, and legitimacy.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

A report into the effectiveness of vetting arrangements in Northumbria Police

2023-09-21 · peel report

This report examines the effectiveness of the vetting arrangements in Northumbria Police, following an inspection conducted in May 2023. It evaluates management practices and identifies areas for improvement.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

PEEL 2021/22 – An inspection of Northumbria Police

2022-09-22 · peel report

This report sets out the findings for Northumbria Police as part of HMICFRS’s assessment of police forces in England and Wales, focusing on effectiveness, efficiency, and legitimacy.

Effectiveness: GoodEfficiency: GoodLegitimacy: Good

Key findings (5)

Northumbria Police performed well in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, and legitimacy.
The force has shown improvement in service delivery since the last inspection.
Community engagement is a strong point for Northumbria Police.
The force's response to serious incidents has been effective.
There is good partnership working with local agencies.

Recommendations (5)

Continue to enhance community engagement strategies.
Maintain the focus on operational efficiency improvements.
Ensure ongoing training for staff in legitimacy practices.
Increase transparency in policing activities.
Regularly review protocols for incident response.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Northumbria Police - Joint inspection of police custody

2020-01-23 · force-specific report

This inspection into Northumbria Police is one of a series on police custody inspections carried out jointly by HMI Prisons and HMICFRS. The programme looks at strategy, treatment and conditions, individual rights and health care. It also contributes to the UK’s response to its international obligation to ensure regular and independent inspection of all places of detention.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

PEEL: Police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy 2018/19 – Northumbria Police

2019-09-27 · peel report

PEEL is HMICFRS’s annual assessment of police forces in England and Wales, focusing on their effectiveness, efficiency, and legitimacy. The 2018/19 assessments were integrated, combining previously separate inspections into a single evaluation of performance for Northumbria Police.

Effectiveness: Not specifiedEfficiency: Not specifiedLegitimacy: Not specified

Key findings (3)

Integrated assessment combines effectiveness, efficiency, and legitimacy into a single report.
Overall performance analysis is provided for Northumbria Police.
Areas for improvement and notable practices are highlighted for each inspected component.

Recommendations (3)

Enhance transparency and integrity within the force.
Increase community engagement initiatives.
Promote consistent training for officers in legitimacy practices.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Joint targeted area inspection of the multi-agency response to child exploitation in Northumberland

2019-08-02 · thematic report

Between 17 and 21 June 2019, Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission, HMI Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services and HMI Probation carried out a joint inspection of the multi-agency response to children experiencing or at risk of sexual exploitation and those experiencing or at risk of criminal exploitation in Northumberland. This letter outlines the findings of the joint inspection.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Northumbria – National child protection post-inspection review

2019-04-11 · thematic report

This inspection reviewed the progress made in Northumbria Police since the 2017 inspection report. It highlights the police's significant role in child protection and their collaboration with other agencies to ensure children's safety and well-being.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Northumbria – National child protection inspection

2018-06-28 · national report

The inspection examined child protection in Northumbria Police in January 2018, focusing on the important role of police in safeguarding children and working with other agencies for their protection and wellbeing.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

PEEL: police effectiveness 2017 – Northumbria Police

2018-03-22 · peel report

As part of the annual inspections of police effectiveness, HMICFRS assessed how effective Northumbria Police is at keeping people safe and reducing crime. The report examines various aspects of policing, such as crime prevention, investigation, and support for vulnerable individuals.

Key findings (5)

The report evaluates five key areas of policing effectiveness.
It assesses the force's approach to preventing crime and tackling anti-social behaviour.
It examines the effectiveness of investigations and efforts to reduce re-offending.
The force's support for vulnerable individuals is also scrutinized.
The report covers the handling of serious and organised crime.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

PEEL: police legitimacy 2017 - Northumbria Police

2017-12-12 · peel report

This inspection evaluated how Northumbria Police treats individuals with fairness and respect, ensures ethical and lawful conduct among its workforce, and assesses how the workforce perceives their treatment. The findings highlight the current status of legitimacy within the force.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

PEEL: police efficiency 2017 - Northumbria Police

2017-11-09 · peel report

This inspection examined how well Northumbria Police understands the demand for its service, how it matches its resources to that demand, and how it plans to meet future demand, providing an assessment of its efficiency. The report sets out the findings for Northumbria Police regarding its efficiency in response to current and future demands.

Overall Efficiency: Requires Improvement

Key findings (3)

Northumbria Police understands the demand for its services.
The force matches resources to demand well but needs to improve future planning.
Efficiency is assessed as requiring improvement based on current practices.

Recommendations (2)

Enhance training on resource allocation to meet future demands.
Improve planning strategies to better anticipate service needs.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Abuse of position assessment - Northumbria Police

2017-10-05 · peel report

In the 2016 legitimacy inspections, a national concern was identified regarding forces' abilities to seek intelligence on potential abuse of position for sexual gain. HMICFRS recommended all forces implement plans to address this issue. The 2017 review assessed the progress of these plans specifically for Northumbria Police.

Legitimacy: Requires Improvement

Key findings (3)

A national concern regarding abuse of position for sexual gain was identified in 2016.
HMICFRS recommended forces implement action plans for intelligence gathering on abuse of position.
Northumbria Police was assessed on their compliance with this recommendation in 2017.

Recommendations (2)

Northumbria Police should enhance training for officers on recognizing abuse of position.
Investigate further into complaints related to abuse of position for sexual purposes.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

PEEL: police effectiveness 2016 – Northumbria Police

2017-03-02 · peel report

As part of annual inspections of police effectiveness, HMIC assessed how effective Northumbria Police is at keeping people safe and reducing crime. The inspection evaluated five key areas of policing effectiveness, including crime prevention and tackling anti-social behaviour.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

PEEL: police legitimacy 2016 - Northumbria Police

2016-12-08 · peel report

This report assesses Northumbria Police's legitimacy in terms of fairness and respect towards individuals, the ethical conduct of its workforce, and how the workforce itself feels treated. It follows up on previous findings and includes national themes. The legitimacy reports will be followed by effectiveness reports in early 2017.

Legitimacy: good

Key findings (8)

Northumbria Police treats people with fairness and respect.
The workforce acts ethically and lawfully.
Employees feel they are treated positively by their organization.
The report identifies key areas for improvement regarding ethical policing practices.
Recommendations from the previous national overview assess potential abuse of position for sexual gain.
The overarching themes were discussed on a national level in this report.
The design and implementation of plans in response to previous recommendations were evaluated.
The report highlights the need for continuous improvement in police practices.

Recommendations (8)

All forces should enhance their ability to investigate abuse of position for sexual gain.
Establish clear guidelines and training for officers on ethical engagement.
Conduct regular assessments of public perception regarding police legitimacy.
Implement comprehensive feedback systems to monitor workforce satisfaction.
Ensure transparency in police actions and decision-making processes.
Engage with community forums to understand public concerns better.
Develop strategies that promote fair treatment across all demographics.
Monitor and review the effectiveness of existing initiatives regularly.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

PEEL: police efficiency 2016 - Northumbria Police

2016-11-03 · peel report

This inspection assessed how well Northumbria Police understands demand for its service and how efficiently it matches resources to that demand. Findings are discussed within the context of the efficiency of police services in England and Wales.

Efficiency: Good

Key findings (3)

The inspection focused on the understanding of demand for police services.
It evaluated how resources are matched to that demand.
The report contributes to the broader national overview of police efficiency.

Recommendations (3)

Enhance understanding of demand for services.
Improve resource allocation based on demand.
Follow up with assessments on legitimacy and effectiveness.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Best Use of Stop and Search revisit - Northumbria Police

2016-09-22 · thematic report

This report revisits the Northumbria Police's compliance with the Best Use of Stop and Search scheme, following a prior inspection in 2015 that identified significant non-compliance. The scheme aims to enhance community involvement and the effectiveness of stop and search practices. The findings of this revisit will inform potential recommendations regarding the suspension of the force from the scheme.

Compliance with the Best Use of Stop and Search scheme: requires improvement

Key findings (3)

Northumbria Police was one of 13 forces not complying with three or more features of the scheme.
Only 11 forces were found to comply with all five features of the BUSS scheme.
The revisit was prompted by non-compliance identified in the 2015 PEEL Legitimacy inspection.

Recommendations (3)

Northumbria should enhance its compliance with the Best Use of Stop and Search scheme features.
Future inspections should monitor ongoing compliance improvements.
Transparent data recording should be prioritized.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Joint targeted area inspection of the multi-agency response to abuse and neglect in South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough

2016-04-05 · thematic report

Between 22 February and 26 February 2016, Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission, HMI Constabulary and HMI Probation undertook a joint inspection of the multi-agency response to abuse and neglect in South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough. This inspection included a ‘deep dive’ focus on the response to child sexual exploitation and those missing from home, care or education.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Police effectiveness 2015 – Northumbria Police

2016-02-18 · peel report

This inspection assessed how effective Northumbria Police is at keeping people safe and reducing crime and anti-social behaviour, focusing on four areas: preventing crime, investigating crime and managing offenders, protecting vulnerable people, and tackling serious crime.

Overall effectiveness: GoodPreventing crime and anti-social behaviour: GoodInvestigating crime and managing offenders: Requires improvementProtecting vulnerable people: GoodTackling serious and organised crime: Good

Key findings (8)

The force is effective in preventing crime and anti-social behaviour.
Investigations are often of poor quality and need significant improvement.
The force has a good understanding of local crime profiles.
Staffing levels are adequate to meet the demands of the service.
The assessment of vulnerable people reflects positively on the force's efforts.
Support for victims is prioritized, which strengthens community trust.
The force collaborates effectively with partner agencies.
There is a clear commitment to tackling serious and organized crime.

Recommendations (8)

Enhance the quality of investigations of crime.
Increase training for officers in police investigations.
Improve services for supporting victims of crime.
Increase collaboration efforts with local community partners.
Regularly assess the needs of vulnerable populations.
Implement better strategies for resolving anti-social behaviour.
Ensure adequate staffing in high-demand areas.
Continue to improve crime prevention strategies.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Police legitimacy 2015 – Northumbria Police

2016-02-11 · peel report

As part of its annual inspections into police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy (PEEL), HMIC’s legitimacy programme assessed how legitimate the force is at keeping people safe and reducing crime. The inspection focused on whether a force was consistently behaving in a way that is fair, reasonable, effective and lawful, and if it has the consent of the public.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Police effectiveness 2015 (Vulnerability) – Northumbria Police

2015-12-15 · peel report

This report assesses how well Northumbria Police keep people safe and reduce crime, focusing on the protection of vulnerable individuals and the support for victims. It examines the force's response to missing children, domestic abuse victims, and safeguarding measures for at-risk children.

Overall Effectiveness: GoodResponse to Vulnerability: Requires Improvement

Key findings (8)

Northumbria Police has improved its handling of domestic abuse cases.
There is a need for better training on vulnerability issues for frontline officers.
The support for missing and absent children has been strengthened.
Community engagement has enhanced vulnerability response efforts.
Partnership work with local agencies is crucial for safeguarding.
Victim support services have received positive feedback from users.
There is variability in response times for vulnerable calls.
Resource allocation impacts service delivery for vulnerable individuals.

Recommendations (8)

Provide comprehensive training for all officers on vulnerability.
Enhance cooperation with partner agencies in safeguarding efforts.
Establish a dedicated unit for managing vulnerable cases.
Regularly review and improve response protocols for domestic abuse.
Increase resources directed toward services for missing children.
Implement a feedback system from victims to improve practices.
Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of vulnerability policies.
Invest in technology to better track and manage vulnerability cases.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Northumbria Police

2015-11-12 · thematic report

This report examines the quality of criminal case files in relation to the identification of vulnerability among victims and witnesses. It highlights the essential role of police in ensuring accurate reporting to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Northumbria – Joint inspection of police custody suites

2014-07-28 · thematic report

This report is one of a series on police custody inspections carried out jointly by HMIC and HMI Prisons. The inspections look at strategy, treatment and conditions, individual rights and health care. They also make a key contribution to the United Kingdom’s response to its international obligation to ensure regular and independent inspection of all places of detention.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Northumbria – Response to the funding challenge

2013-07-18 · thematic report

In October 2010, the Government announced that central funding to the Police Service in England and Wales would reduce by 20% in the four years between March 2011 and March 2015. HMIC’s Valuing the Police Programme has tracked how forces are planning to make savings to meet this budget demand each year since summer 2011. This report identifies what we found in this third year.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Northumbria – Revisiting police relationships: progress report

2012-12-18 · thematic report

This report revisits the findings of the 2011 publication 'Without Fear or Favour,' assessing police relationships with the media and other parties. While some progress has been made in managing threats to integrity, further efforts are required to enhance police practices.

Key findings (4)

Instances of undue influence and inappropriate contractual arrangements were examined.
No evidence of endemic corruption was found in police relationships.
Some progress has been made since the last report in implementing processes and policies.
Further improvements are necessary for threat management to police integrity.

Recommendations (3)

Enhance training for police officers regarding relationships with the media.
Establish clearer guidelines for police interactions with external parties.
Increase transparency in police operations involving the media.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Northumbria, Preparing for police and crime commissioners

2012-07-27 · thematic report

This report assesses how police authorities are preparing for the transition to police and crime commissioners (PCCs), focusing on Northumbria. It examines their transition plans in anticipation of the first PCC elections in November 2012.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Northumbria, Policing in austerity: One year on

2012-07-02 · thematic report

This report assesses Northumbria's response to the financial challenges posed by a 20% reduction in central funding announced by the Government in October 2010. It reviews data provided by the force in February 2012, highlighting the impact on public service.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Northumbria, anti-social behaviour inspection report, 2012

2012-06-21 · thematic report

In Spring 2010, we carried out a review to find out how the police can best tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB). We committed to repeating this inspection in 2012 to check on progress. This report tells you what we found.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Northumbria – Review of police crime and incident reports – 2012

2012-01-25 · thematic report

This report examines the quality of crime and incident data, as well as the systems in place to maintain and improve standards across police forces in England and Wales.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Northumbria - Joint inspection of police custody suites

2012-01-04 · force-specific report

This report provides findings from the joint inspection of police custody suites in Northumbria, focusing on the treatment of individuals in custody and overall conditions. The inspection concluded that while improvements have been made, further actions are necessary to ensure the rights and welfare of detainees.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Northumbria – value for money profile

2011-08-01 · thematic report

This report reviews the value for money provided by Northumbria police and outlines key aspects of effectiveness and efficiency. The inspection highlights areas where improvements can be made to enhance service delivery.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Northumbria, Valuing the Police preparedness inspection

2011-07-21 · thematic report

This inspection report evaluates the preparedness of the Northumbria police force regarding value for money. The inspection concluded that improvements are necessary to enhance service delivery and efficiency.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Northumbria Anti-social behaviour inspection

2010-09-22 · thematic report

This inspection report evaluates the effectiveness of the Northumbria police in handling anti-social behaviour. The conclusion highlighted areas of strength and opportunities for improvement within the force's approach to anti-social issues.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Northumbria Ipsos MORI Anti-social behaviour research results

2010-09-22 · thematic report

This report focuses on anti-social behaviour research conducted by Ipsos MORI in the Northumbria area. The findings aim to provide insights and understanding of public concerns regarding anti-social behaviour.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Northumbria Policing pledge

2009-10-12 · thematic report

This report evaluates the Northumbria policing pledge aimed at improving police efficiency and engagement with the community. It outlines the pledge's key objectives and assesses the progress made in achieving them.

Northumbria Policing: good

Key findings (4)

The pledge has successfully enhanced community engagement.
There are ongoing challenges in meeting all performance targets.
Collaboration with local partners has improved as a result of the pledge.
Public feedback indicates an increase in satisfaction with police services.

Recommendations (4)

Increase training for officers on community relations.
Strengthen accountability measures to ensure pledge adherence.
Expand outreach programs to underrepresented communities.
Enhance data collection on policing outcomes.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Northumbria Phase 2, neighbourhood policing/citizen focus

2008-08-30 · thematic report

This report focuses on the neighbourhood policing strategy of Northumbria Police and its effectiveness in engaging with citizens. The evaluation highlights areas of success and presents recommendations for improvement.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Northumbria Phase 2, major crime

2008-06-29 · force-specific report

This report evaluates the handling of major crimes by the Northumbria police force, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement. The key conclusion suggests a need for enhanced operational strategies and training.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Northumbria Police National Computer compliance audit

2006-10-31 · national report

This publication is the audit report on Northumbria Police's compliance with the National Computer. It focuses on the assessment of the operational practices related to the computer systems used by the police force.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Northumbria, Sunderland Basic Command Unit inspection follow-up

2006-10-31 · force-specific report

This report is a follow-up inspection of the Northumbria, Sunderland Basic Command Unit. The report assesses progress against previous recommendations and the overall performance of the unit since the initial inspection.

Overall performance: Good

Key findings (4)

The unit has shown improvement in response times.
There are enhanced community engagement initiatives.
Staff training has been prioritized and improved.
Crime detection rates have increased since the last inspection.

Recommendations (4)

Continue to focus on training and development for officers.
Enhance community outreach programs further.
Monitor performance indicators regularly to sustain improvements.
Invest in technology to aid crime prevention strategies.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Northumbria Baseline assessment 2006

2006-09-29 · baseline report

This report presents the baseline assessment for Northumbria Police conducted in 2006. It evaluates various aspects of police operations and performance in the area.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Northumbria, Newcastle Basic Command Unit inspection follow-up

2005-12-31 · force-specific report

This report is a follow-up inspection of the Northumbria, Newcastle Basic Command Unit. It assesses various operational areas and improvements since the last inspection. The findings indicate areas of progress and those requiring further attention.

Operational Effectiveness: GoodCommunity Engagement: Requires ImprovementIncident Response: Adequate

Key findings (3)

The command unit shows improved operational effectiveness compared to previous assessments.
Community engagement initiatives have expanded, though consistency remains a challenge.
Response times have improved but need continuous monitoring to ensure standards are maintained.

Recommendations (3)

Enhance training programs for community engagement personnel.
Implement regular reviews of incident response performance.
Increase transparency in operational practices to build public trust.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Northumbria, Northumberland Basic Command Unit inspection follow-up

2005-12-31 · force-specific report

This report evaluates the follow-up inspection of the Northumbria, Northumberland Basic Command Unit. The inspection highlights key areas of focus and improvement since the last assessment.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Northumbria, Sunderland Basic Command Unit inspection

2005-10-31 · force-specific report

This report details the findings from the inspection of the Northumbria Sunderland Basic Command Unit. It evaluates the effectiveness of service delivery and management within the unit.

Overall effectiveness: GoodQuality of service: AdequateLeadership: Outstanding

Key findings (3)

The force demonstrated a good understanding of the local context.
Community engagement initiatives have improved trust in the police.
The leadership framework is robust, fostering effective teamwork.

Recommendations (3)

Increase training for frontline officers in community policing.
Enhance data analytics capabilities for better resource allocation.
Focus on improving response times to emergency calls.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Northumbria, Newcastle Basic Command Unit inspection

2005-01-31 · force-specific report

This report inspects the Northumbria Newcastle Basic Command Unit, evaluating its performance and functionality. The inspection highlights areas of strength as well as those requiring improvement.

Overall effectiveness: AdequateService delivery: Good

Key findings (4)

The unit shows effective leadership.
Community engagement is a priority for the unit.
Staff training programs are well-implemented.
Performance metrics are regularly reviewed.

Recommendations (3)

Enhance training for new recruits.
Increase community outreach initiatives.
Improve data analysis capabilities.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Northumbria, Northumberland Basic Command Unit inspection

2005-01-31 · force-specific report

This report inspects the Northumberland Basic Command Unit within the Northumbria police force. The inspection evaluates various operational aspects and outputs of the command unit. Overall, the findings aim to enhance efficiency and performance in service delivery.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Reviewed by the BlueLineHub Editorial Team

Last reviewed: 19 July 2026 · Next review due: 19 January 2027

Source: HMICFRS · Crown copyright, summarised under the Open Government Licence v3.0 · Archive indexed 2026-07-19. BlueLineHub is independent and not affiliated with HMICFRS.