Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services
 | |
| Established | 21 July 1856 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Globe House 89 Eccleston Square London SW1V 1PN[1] |
Region served | United Kingdom |
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), formerly Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), has statutory responsibility for the inspection of the police forces, and since July 2017 the fire and rescue services, of England and Wales. HMICFRS is headed by the Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Chief Inspector of Fire & Rescue Services. It has taken over the responsibilities of Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate.
Inspections may also be made, by invitation only, and on a non-statutory basis, of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and other organisations with policing responsibility.[2]
England and Wales[]
In England and Wales, HMICFRS is responsible to the UK Parliament.[3] The first inspectors were appointed under the County and Borough Police Act 1856; current statutory functions are contained in the Police Act 1996 and related legislation. However, the body's principal statutory functions are unchanged since its establishment in 1856, namely to assess and report on the efficiency and effectiveness of police forces in England and Wales. In July 2017, its remit was expanded to include responsibility to assess and report on the efficiency, effectiveness and leadership of the 45 Fire & Rescue services in England.[4][5]
The inspectorate is also paid by other departments to reports on the activities of non-Home Office bodies involved in law enforcement, such as the British Transport Police, the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, HM Revenue and Customs, the National Crime Agency, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and some overseas police forces.[2] Reporting has also been performed on a voluntary basis for the Special Investigation Branch (SIB) of the Royal Military Police. It also receives funding from the Treasury for its work on HMRC.
As a public authority, HMICFRS is susceptible to judicial review.
Personnel[]
HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary (and from 2017 HM Chief Inspector of Fire & Rescue Services) is the lawyer and former rail regulator Tom Winsor, who took office on 1 October 2012 as the first Chief Inspector to be appointed from outside the police service.[6] His predecessor was former Surrey Police Chief Constable, Sir Denis O'Connor, in post from 2008 until his retirement in 2012.[7][8]
In addition to the Chief Inspector of Constabulary, there are three Inspectors of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services:[9] Zoë Billingham (formerly a senior official in the Cabinet Office); Matthew Parr CB[10] (formerly a Rear-Admiral in the Royal Navy); and Wendy Williams (formerly Chief Crown Prosecutor of CPS Direct). Appointments follow the Code of Practice of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.[10]
Northern Ireland[]
Inspections of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have been made in recent years by invitation, on a non-statutory basis. The allows HMIC to perform inspection and assessment of services or projects by direction of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. At the request of the chief constable of the PSNI, in 2013 the inspectorate published a report into Northern Ireland's Historical Enquiries Team.[11]
List of chief inspectors[]
Inspectors of Constabulary for England and Wales from 1856:
- Captain Francis J. Parry, to 1900
- Captain Herbert D. Terry, from 1900[12]
The first chief inspector was appointed in 1962.[8]
- Sir William Johnson, 1962–1963
- Sir Edward Dodd, 1963–1966
- Colonel Sir Eric St Johnston, 1967–1970
- Sir John McKay, 1970–1972
- Sir John Hill, 1972–1975
- Sir James Haughton, 1976–1977
- Sir Colin Woods, 1977–1979
- Sir James Crane, 1979–1982
- Sir Lawrence Byford, 1983–1987
- Sir Richard Barrett, 1987–1990
- Sir John Woodcock, 1990–1993
- Sir Trefor Morris, 1993–1996
- Sir David O'Dowd, 1996–2001
- Sir Keith Povey 2002–2005
- Sir Ronnie Flanagan, 2005–2009
- Sir Denis O'Connor, 2009–2012
- Sir Thomas Winsor, 2012–present
In July 2017, the role became Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Chief Inspector of Fire & Rescue Services. The current incumbent is Sir Thomas Winsor.
References[]
- ^ "Contact us". Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Fire & Rescue Services. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Inspection of the performance of Home Office police forces: HMICFRS's approach to inspection, including monitoring, force insight, inspection design and fieldwork" (PDF). Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services. October 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ "Home". HMICFRS.
- ^ "Home Office announces new fire inspectorate". National Fire Chiefs Council. 19 July 2017. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
- ^ "Fire & rescue services". HMICFRS. Retrieved 2017-09-25.
- ^ "Tom Winsor picked as top candidate for senior police role". BBC News. 2012-06-08. Retrieved 2012-06-08.
- ^ "Chief Inspector of Constabulary to retire". GOV.UK. Home Office. 28 March 2012. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
- ^ a b "Previous Chief Inspectors". HMICFRS. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
- ^ "Who we are". HMICFRS. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
- ^ a b "Home Secretary announces appointment of new HM Inspector of Constabulary". GOV.UK. Home Office. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 2016-09-19.
- ^ "#018/2013 – The Historical Enquiries Team's approach to reviewing deaths during 'the troubles' is inconsistent, has serious shortcomings and so risks public confidence, HMIC finds". 3 July 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^ "Appointment". The Times (36077). London. 28 February 1900. p. 9.
External links[]
- 1856 establishments in England
- 1856 establishments in Wales
- Home Office (United Kingdom)
- Public bodies and task forces of the United Kingdom government