Police ‘significantly improved’

The way Lincolnshire Police manages registered sex offenders no longer poses a potential risk to the public, a watchdog has said.
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) warned in 2025 that the force was struggling under a huge backlog and high workloads, writes Local Democracy Reporter Jamie Waller.
However, the force has “significantly improved” and the watchdog says this is no longer a concern.
At the time of the last inspection, there was a backlog of 3,000 reviews on the Violent and Sex Offender Register, which the force had been unable to clear.
Each officer was also responsible for 65 offenders, above the recommended number of 1 to 50.
Visits to offenders where the Probation Service was the lead agency had to be temporarily suspended due to the workload.
A letter published by the HMICFRS on Thursday, March 12, says this is no longer a cause for concern in Lincolnshire – although four others remain.
“During our reinspection work, we found the force had increased staffing levels, reduced backlogs, and improved the management of risk,” it says.
“Personnel working in the Management of Violent and Sexual Offenders team are now appropriately trained to carry out their roles.
“The force has reinstated visits to offenders where the Probation Service is the lead agency.
“The force has an improved performance management framework, including good data visibility, and senior leaders now have a better understanding of risk in this area.
“Workloads are manageable and there is a clear process to inform senior leaders if they increase.”
Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones said more improvements would follow now the force has received extra funding.
“This was an important area in which to make improvements and I’m glad to see that the force has done so,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
“It does however come at another cost. This has been achieved by removing officers from other departments and, as I have said many times, the underfunding by successive governments has created this problem of robbing one area to boost another.
“It is gratifying to now be working on substantive plans with the chief constable to see improvements across the board now that additional funding has been secured from government.
“It will take some time for this transformation to fully take place but the announcement by HMICFRS is just the first, yet an important example, of what will be achieved in the coming months and years.”
At the last inspection, the areas rated inadequate were investigating crime, responding to the public, managing offenders, and leadership and force management.
It was told it required improvement on preventing crime, protecting vulnerable people, police powers and public treatment, and developing a positive workplace.