WEST Midlands Police chiefs say the force is committed to a robust crime recording improvement plan after being rated as 'inadequate' by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary.

The HMIC Crime Data Integrity report published today (Tuesday January 15) - based on analysis of crime reports from March to May 2018 - suggests 16,600 violent crimes a year slip through the net as they are not being recorded by officers and call handlers.

The force, however, has challenged key parts of the police watchdog's assessment and Deputy Chief Constable Louisa Rolfe said: "It is frustrating that, despite substantial progress, our grading has remained as inadequate.

"This report focuses upon our inspection of reports of violent crime and sexual offences. It does not include the results of other crimes, and consequently it has not recognised the force’s overall crime recording from which we have good, reliable crime accuracy.

"The report focuses on crime recorded by the force between March and May 2018, over seven months ago. The system on which crime is recorded is old and due for replacement later this year.

"Unfortunately, due to difficulties in extracting accurate data from our old technology, inspectors were not able to validate a much-improved overall crime recording accuracy. Consequently this report focuses upon the important areas of violence and sexual offences. Despite the limited progress in these areas up to May 2018, we are confident that our current position is much improved.

"Data sampled in this report is from a three-month period only and we are continuing to make crime recording improvements overall with a particular focus on sexual offences and violent crime which is highlighted in the report."

She continued: "We were particularly disappointed to hear inspectors assessed a decision to not invest additional resources in crime recording teams as a failure to improve.

"HMICFRS consistently assess our efficiency in the use of resources as good or outstanding, i.e. we are making best use of what we’ve got, yet they also identify that we do not have enough call handlers, response officers, investigators or public protection specialists to deal with our demand. In these circumstances I would question where these additional crime administrators might be found.

"We take very seriously the concerns raised regarding safeguarding and will be addressing these matters as a priority.

"It is important to understand the context: in many of these cases the missed crime was found when inspectors trawled through case histories and would not have affected an ongoing prosecution or safeguarding.

"Inspectors recognised we’ve already taken steps to address some of these deficiencies through the introduction of an Initial Investigation Team and that the team has a good understanding of crime-recording requirements.

"We are always looking for ways we can get better and have a robust improvement plan in place.

"The integrity of police crime recording is vital for both public reassurance and the sound management and deployment of police resources. We are focused on the victims of crime and getting the best outcomes for them."

The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson, said: "It is important that victims get the support they need. That’s why I have protected victims’ funding and founded the country’s first victims’ commission to make sure resources are prioritised to the areas that need it most.

"We are also investing in technology and the force have a plan in place to address this. I support the work West Midlands Police has undertaken on addressing crime data integrity.

"Of course this comes at a time of unprecedented demand and falling government funding. Myself and West Midlands Police are committed to responding to and preventing violence."