Warwickshre Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Philip Seccombe wants greater faith in the county's force to be inspired by results amid national challenges around confidence in the police.

Earlier this month, Chief Inspector of Constabulary Andy Cooke published a report calling for "substantial reform" of "leadership and workforce arrangements" in policing across England and Wales.

He said that police "aren't always focusing on the issues that matter most to the public" with the volume of people charged with offences "far too low".

Furthermore, he found that agencies across the criminal justice system "aren't getting the basics right" and highlighted a "withdrawal from neighbourhood policing". 

The observations were raised during a meeting of the Warwickshire Police and Crime Panel last week - a body of councillors and independent members from across the county that holds the PCC to account.

Chair Andy Davis, one of two independent members who are not elected councillors, said the back-to-basics message was a "powerful reflection" and asked Mr Seccombe to reflect on the findings.

"I think that is right, it sets out why the police are there and what the public expect of policing so I agree with what he is saying," said Mr Seccombe. 

"He has some quite radical ideas on the way to change policing which we will need to consider, as will all other policing authorities and constabularies around the country. 

"It has set a conversation going and a lot of it has been inspired by the goings on in London, the Metropolitan Police.

"If people don't have confidence in the police they are not going to report crime, I absolutely get that, so one of the jobs I am seeking to do is increase confidence in Warwickshire Police and prove to victims and witnesses that it is the right thing to do and a positive thing to do, and that it will bring results if you report crime." 

The latest inspection of Warwickshire Police was published in October 2022 when the force was deemed "adequate" at preventing crime and in its treatment of the public, protection of the vulnerable, development of a positive workplace and for its use of resources. 

Areas that "require improvement" were investigating crime, responding to the public and managing offenders.

It also noted that efforts to reduce crime are being held back by failures to identify vulnerable or repeat victims, supervise investigations to a good standard, understand why victims withdraw their support or attend incidents promptly to secure evidence.

One of the report's conclusions read: "Until the force has the right people with the right skills in the right place and improves its capacity, capability and effectiveness in the areas of investigations, vulnerability and neighbourhoods, it won't be able to effectively reduce crime."