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The decision by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) follows an inspection earlier this year which identified three areas where the force must make improvements: How crime is recorded; its ability to answer emergency and non-emergency calls and the management of registered sexual and violent offenders.
HMICFRS will now monitor the force under its enhanced Engage process which provides additional scrutiny and support on behalf of the public.
In its inspection, HMICFRS highlighted a number of strengths in the organisation, stating that it understood the needs and expectations of local communities with a focus on vulnerability and worked effectively with partners.
Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “HMICFRS inspections are among the tools I have that help me hold the Chief Constable to account for delivering an effective and efficient police force.
“There are few surprises in this report. Emergency and non emergency contact, for example, have been areas of concern for a number of years, that is why I have invested in this area and am reopening police stations to give more people alternative ways to access the police.
“We must not lose sight of the fact that brave and dedicate police officers, staff and volunteers work tirelessly to maintain a force area that is consistently one of the safest in England and Wales.
“I look forward to working alongside the leadership team within the police and our new Chief Constable, Will Kerr OBE, on improvements that will satisfy the inspectorate and drive forward change for residents of Devon and Cornwall.”