On Wednesday HM Inspectorate of Constabulary publishes its report on Bromley police. The borough commander gave reporter JON CHEETHAM a preview.

EVERY three years individual police command units, like Bromley police, undergo an inspection that covers everything from the way they handle calls from the public, to staff moral.

The last HMIC inspection of Bromley police was in November 2006.

Recommendations made in the report targeted senior management structures, the way police engage with ethnic communities in the borough, and the efficient use of officers.

The ultimate aim of the recommendations was to improve performance - reducing crime on our streets and catching more criminals.

In January this year the HMIC inspection team returned to Bromley exactly one year after Chief Superintendent Charles Griggs became borough commander.

The report which is published on Wednesday, makes for very satisfying reading says Mr Griggs - as its findings are extremely positive.

He said: "It gives us a score of about nine out of 10 which for me is a good result.

"Our direction of travel is really good.

"Crime reduction is excellent and over the last 12 months we have got more than 3,500 fewer victims of crime in the borough which for everyone is a great success."

He added: "The most important thing is that they have looked at our internal processes and they have marked us very highly on things like internal leadership, the visibility of my senior management team among the staff.

"And the way they manage our staff.

"Things like staff moral are really important.

"We conducted a survey among our staff and a high number are really enthused about working for the people of Bromley.

"We asked a question - do you take pride in you work?

"And something like 88 per cent of my officers and police staff said they take great pride in their work.

"I think that is fantastic.

"It is fantastic for the people of Bromley and it is fantastic for me.

"If my staff feel good they work hard and I think that is reflected in the results we have achieved over the last year."

Rather than get in the way of the everyday policing, the borough commander says having the recommendations and targets has helped him find his way into the job during the past year.

Mr Griggs said: "It has been really useful for me because I came here as the new borough commander in January 2007 and I was presented with the HMIC inspection report - which for me was like a health check.

"It told me all the things I needed to do.

"It didn't tell me how to do them but it was common sense."

He added: "They inspect every borough command unit nationally so they have a level of expertise and they were telling me what I needed to do, so that is what I did."

  • Watch the video to hear more from the borough commander and find out what he hopes to achieve in the coming year.