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PCC Ann Barnes quizzes Kent police chief on figures Kent police chief Ian Learmonth admits stats 'distortion'
(about 1 hour later)
Kent's police chief has faced questions from the police and crime commissioner (PCC) after a report found one in 10 crimes had been inaccurately recorded. Kent's police chief has admitted there was a "distortion of activity" by the force in some areas of the county to achieve crime statistic targets.
Chief Constable Ian Learmonth said the force was taking the report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) extremely seriously. Ian Learmonth was facing questions from the police and crime commissioner (PCC) after a report found one in 10 crimes had been inaccurately recorded.
PCC Ann Barnes summoned Mr Learmonth to a public meeting earlier after expressing her anger at the report. The chief constable said the force was taking Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) report seriously.
The report found an "institutional bias" towards chasing crime targets. He was summoned to the public meeting earlier by PCC Ann Barnes.
It found 25% of crimes recorded as "no-crimes" were wrongly classified, among them rapes and robberies.
'Performance culture''Performance culture'
She expressed her anger after the report found an "institutional bias" towards chasing crime targets.
It found 25% of crimes recorded as "no-crimes" were wrongly classified, among them rapes and robberies.
Mr Learmonth told Ms Barnes: "There was a distortion of activity in some areas around the county to achieve the numerical targets that they've been set.
"Is that against the law or are they doing something that's breaking or breaching the law? No, it isn't, because these are offences that are taking place so we're investigating the offences.
"Is that the activity that we would want them to focus their attention on? No, it isn't."
The meeting, which was held at Kent Police headquarters in Maidstone, heard how there had been a historic culture of chasing targets, and a tendency of officers to want to "paint the force in the best light".The meeting, which was held at Kent Police headquarters in Maidstone, heard how there had been a historic culture of chasing targets, and a tendency of officers to want to "paint the force in the best light".
Ms Barnes asked Zoe Billingham of the HMIC if the public could now be confident the "right performance culture" was now in place following the critical report.Ms Barnes asked Zoe Billingham of the HMIC if the public could now be confident the "right performance culture" was now in place following the critical report.
Ms Billingham replied: "I think it is too early for me to say.Ms Billingham replied: "I think it is too early for me to say.
"The chief constable has given very clear messages from the top about the type of organisation he expects to lead."The chief constable has given very clear messages from the top about the type of organisation he expects to lead.
"We need to, as an inspectorate, to stand back now and see if that actually happens and that's why we are going to come back in December.""We need to, as an inspectorate, to stand back now and see if that actually happens and that's why we are going to come back in December."
Chief Constable Learmonth told Ms Barnes the force would acknowledge all the recommendations in the report, and look at its processes and procedures. Chief Constable Learmonth told Ms Barnes the force would acknowledge all the recommendations in the report, and look at its processes and procedures to get them right.
He said while there was a subjective element about recording crime, the force needed to do "some work" around its processes to make sure it got them right Questioned about the implications that victims were not getting the service they deserved, he said: "We are one of very few forces who send an officer to every crime.
Questioned about the implications that victims were not getting the service they deserved, he said: "We do have a very focused view on dealing with victims in this county. "If there's any indication there could be a crime, an officer will attend every crime.
"We are one of very few forces who send an officer to every crime. If there's any indication there could be a crime, an officer will attend every crime."
He added: "We are not making these decisions on the back of a phone call. We are actually going there."He added: "We are not making these decisions on the back of a phone call. We are actually going there."
'Questions to answer'
Kent MP Mark Reckless, who sits on the home affairs select committee, said it was another blow to Ann Barnes as police and crime commissioner, following the appointment of youth commissioner Paris Brown.
He said Ms Barnes had referred to a historical target-driven culture but he said she had been the chairman of the former Kent Police Authority (KPA).
Mr Reckless said: "It was before we even appointed Ian Learmonth. So I really think it's Ann who has got the questions to answer here."
The former member of KPA said he would be raising the issues with policing minister and Ashford MP Damian Green at a meeting of the home affairs select committee later.
He added: "I don't think it's right to blame the chief constable. I think it dates back to a target-driven culture both under the previous Labour government but also when Ann was chair of the authority.
"I really think she needs to take responsibility here."