The first five PEEL performance assessments of the 2025-27 regime are now available. Results for forces are mixed.
Humberside, Kent, North Yorkshire, Surrey, and Wiltshire have now all been graded against the nine new policing themes in the 2025-27 PEEL Assessment Framework (PAF). In this blog I summarise results so far, how each force compares, and give a quick reminder of what the PEEL framework is assessing.
What is the Police PEEL?
‘PEEL’ stands for Police Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Legitimacy. It summarises three core tenets of policing into a handy Peelian acronym as a nod to the origins of our UK policing model and its founding Peelian Principles.
PEEL became the basis of an assessment framework used by the HMIC (now HMICFRS) to intermittently review how well forces are doing. Ultimately, it’s the main way forces and their senior leaders are judged on performance. And the HMIC is theinspectorate for policing.
Since 2021, the HMIC no longer give gradings to these three overarching themes of Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Legitimacy. Instead, they provide gradings for a wider range of ‘core questions’ more specific to policing concepts. Every couple of years, the HMIC tweaks its focus on what areas it should review as part of its PAF.
While those frameworks change, much has stayed the same over the years, as shown in my bespoke infographic above.
The HMIC have already been busy inspecting forces and gathering evidence on their performance against its new inspection regime since mid-2025. It’s just that the reports have only just come out last month. And be assured, there’s several reports in the pipeline due for imminent release, while other forces are in the inspection stage right now.
To recap, here are the core questions used to assess all forces against for this current 2025-27 assessment framework period:
- How good is the force at leadership and force management?
- How good is the force at attracting, developing and retaining its workforce and creating a diverse and inclusive workplace?
- How good is the force at using its powers fairly, appropriately and with justification?
- How good is the force at preventing and deterring crime, antisocial behaviour and vulnerability?
- How good is the force at responding to the public?
- How good is the force at investigating crime?
- How good is the force at safeguarding children and adults at risk of harm?
- How good is the force at managing fraud?
- How good is the force at providing a safe and lawful custody environment?
In short, these can be a good predictor of promotion board questions you may face. Especially for themes in which your force requires improvement. Refer to my comprehensive premium toolkits to learn how you can paint a brighter future for your force under your leadership.
When inspecting a force, the HMIC dives deep. It looks at policies, processes, performance data, risks, and a raft of other documentation that force holds. But it goes further, interrogating records and their free text (e.g. of crimes and incidents) and asking around the workforce to reality-check what’s really going on and what people working there really feel. And that’s the bit that makes some leaders quite nervous.
Arguably, it’s just doing things force leaders should be doing themselves on a regular basis.
If they find faults, the HMIC recommend areas for improvement. And any positive or innovative practice is highlighted too. If you want to dive deeper on what’s entailed, here’s the full 2025-2027 PEEL Assessment Framework details.
The (Mixed) PEEL Results So Far…
As I mention, the first five forces have received their report cards for 2025-27. A bunch of recommendations have been made and innovative/promising practice identified. I’ve summarised all these and more in my latest PEEL summary videos for three of the five forces.
Let’s look at how the forces reported so far compare overall…
North Yorkshire and Kent overall are attaining higher ratings (translated into scores here) than their peers. They both had similar average scores compared to their 2023-2025 overall ratings.
Humberside and Wiltshire averaged a score of around 2, which equates to ‘Adequate’ in the scoring system I’ve devised against each possible rating (as below). While this is a slight improvement for Wiltshire (last time 1.8), Humberside previously averaged 3.1 (Good) across its various themed gradings. Surrey Police averages 1.8, which is the same as their prior average, albeit varying gradings by theme as we’ll see later.
In terms of ratings by ‘core question’, investigation quality features again as a low-scoring theme, as it did for the prior inspection regime. As an aspiring police leader, how are you improving and leading investigations? The new Custody theme averages low, although only two forces have received gradings on this.
Thankfully, the forces reported so far are doing well on preventing crime, ASB and vulnerability. The fair and justified use of police powers also features well, with several forces highlighted for innovative practice and data sharing in this area.
I’ve just compiled three video summaries of the PEEL report highlights for busy cops, completely for free. These not only cover the force’s performance and areas for improvement, but also include key stats about the organisation, priorities, and further reading particularly useful for Inspector and Chief Inspector promotion candidates. For example, see Surrey’s key stats snapshot below.
Now let’s explore how the specific forces have each fared in the assessments…
Kent Police Performing Well…
“I am pleased with several aspects of the performance of Kent Police. However, I have identified areas the force should continue to focus on, including how it records and reviews its use of police powers and how it protects people who are at risk of harm. I am optimistic that Kent Police will continue to make improvements.” – Roy Wilsher, HM Inspector of Constabulary
Kent Police came out reasonably well in their PEEL 2025-27 assessment report. With most areas being either ‘Adequate’ or ‘Good’, there was even an ‘Outstanding’ rating for its core workforce and diversity question. HMIC don’t give out ‘Outstanding’ ratings willy-nilly!
Kent’s training and learning were among several items picked out for praise by the HMIC.
Unsurprisingly, mainstream news media outlets like ITV and BBC presented the negative slant in its reporting. But having no ratings below ‘Adequate’ is a rare feat in this intense scrutiny of every aspect of the force. DCC Peter Ayling references this in his quoted media statements welcoming the report…
“Kent Police is already focused on areas we can improve to ensure we provide the best service possible to our communities. Inspectors highlighted many examples of good practice, especially in the way we prevent and deter crime. Kent Police was one of a very small number of forces where not a single area was found to be inadequate.”
Are you an officer in Kent Police? Seeking promotion in future? By all means get in touch for free 30 minutes coaching to chat through your evidence or to address concerns you may have about the challenge ahead.
Humberside Still Doing OK, But Declining…
Humberside Police received mostly ‘Adequate’ ratings for their core questions. Responding to the Public was rated as Good, while Preventing Crime and ASB was Outstanding. Safeguarding Adults and Children was assessed as Requires Improvement, with several recommendations made to improve.
“Overall, this is a positive report for Humberside Police which is reflective of the hard work and commitment of officers and staff… Humberside Police has not stopped being brilliant and the service the public receive from us continues to be brilliant. I am immensely proud of my officers and staff who work so hard, in often very difficult and challenging circumstances.” – Chief Constable Chris Todd
While this is faring OK, it’s hard to ignore this is a reduction in apparent performance compared to its 2024 and 2022 assessments. In those, the overwhelming majority of Humberside’s core policing themes were graded as Good or Outstanding.
If you’re aspiring to promotion in Humberside Police, give me a free call to explore how you might contribute (and explain your contribution) to future improvements. You might also find helpful my exclusive podcast with Lee Freeman KPM, who was Chief Constable at the time (now an HMIC Inspector). While this was a few years back, the great leadership insights he shares for aspiring leaders stand the test of time. I still have people telling me now how helpful they find this free podcast episode.
Surrey Police Receives Mixed Ratings…
Surrey Police has lifted its 2023 ‘Inadequate’ rating for Responding to the Public up two steps to ‘Adequate’ in this most recent inspection. No force wants an ‘Inadequate’ rating. However, it’s struggling with four other items slipping into the ‘Requires Improvement’ grades. But with two ‘Adequate’ areas and two ‘Good’, it’s fair to say Surrey received mixed results.
Chief Constable Tim De Meyer acknowledged the report and hinted at improvements coming in future as part of its force strategy:
“I welcome today’s PEEL report and accept its findings… this inspection reflects the first two years of our five-year strategy, which prioritises fighting crime, protecting people, and earning public trust. The PEEL report is a fair assessment of our progress made so far, and the improvements still required. We are grateful for the acknowledgement of continued improvement across the force.”
On the plus side for aspiring promotion candidates, there are plenty of recommended improvement areas you can contribute towards in future!
And if you’re based in Surrey, why not also listen to some great leadership insights from CC Tim De Meyer himself? In my hour-long exclusive interview with him in December 2024, he lays out exactly what he wants from leaders at every level.
North Yorkshire Stay Consistently High…
North Yorkshire scored consistently well, mostly with ‘Good’ ratings. Only the new Custody theme attracted a ‘Requires Improvement’ score, with several areas for improvement around its processes here and management of risk.
This maintains the relatively high standards reported in its 2023-25 PEEL assessment, which in turn was a vast improvement on its relatively poor 2021-22 review, with the latter containing four areas as ‘Requiring Improvement’ and one ‘Inadequate’.
Here’s a potential promotion board question if you’re seeking promotion in this force:
“How will you effectively supervise investigations and maximise positive outcomes for victims?”
Wiltshire Police Continues to Improve…
Wiltshire Police share the same ‘Most Similar Group’ as North Yorkshire. Wiltshire is among the smallest England and Wales forces, having just 1,200 police officers and a 2026/27 budget of around £180 million.
While it remains in the top 3 safest forces in England and Wales in terms of crimes per 1000 population (North Yorkshire is the safest by this measure), its recent PEEL performance review results are middling. However, they represent an improvement on their 2023-25 assessment and vastly improved since their disastrous 2021/22 inspection.
HMIC recognise this in their summary statement, albeit not skirting over the fact there remain areas for improvement:
“I am satisfied with many aspects of the performance of Wiltshire Police in keeping people safe, reducing crime and providing an effective service to victims. The force has made notable improvements since our last inspection, particularly in its use of powers and responsiveness to the public. I am also pleased the force continues to focus on preventing crime, including its successful approach to early intervention with young people. However, there remain areas of concern, especially regarding culture, investigations and the management of vulnerability.” – Kathryn Stone OBE, HM Inspector of Constabulary
Aspiring promotion candidates might infer that senior leaders in Wiltshire will be seeking future leaders who can improve force culture, while more effectively manage investigations and vulnerability, to better support the force in future.
I hope you’ve found this blog and these force summaries helpful. What stands out to you? And by all means give me a call if you want some expert support with what works when it comes to police promotion and leadership skills.
Kind Regards, Steve
Seeking police promotion? Want a MASSIVE head start right now and a focus on what matters? Hit the ground running with my great value digital promotion toolkits, and/or my market-leading Police Promotion Masterclass and CVF explainers. There’s nothing else like it to effectively prepare you for success and level the playing field of promotion. Any questions? Get in touch for a free call or to arrange more personal coaching support. Tune in to my extensive podcast for regular powerful leadership CPD and promotion insights.