LETTER: Lincolnshire Police must heed HMIC comments on protecting our children from harm

I was disturbed and saddened to read Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary’s “PEEL” report published last week in which Lincolnshire Police was graded as requiring improvement in the area of protecting those who are vulnerable from harm and supporting victims.

The inspector highlighted inadequate training for frontline officers, saying that “The force does not respond well enough to child sexual exploitation”.

The report also criticised the force, drawing attention to its failings in understanding stalking and harassment. It went on: “Officers and many supervisors do not appear to understand the significance of a course of conduct in harassment as opposed to an isolated incident”.

Just a  few years ago, when my daughter was eight years old, a parent of another child started making false allegations about her to other parents and to her primary school. This later turned into a violent incident at our home where this person had waited for her to return from school.
The police were called but failed to accept or appreciate the seriousness of the impact on the child.

After this incident, the offender was able to gain access to our daughter at her school and her out of school activities, leaving her extremely fearful and disturbed.Many letters to the Chief Constable and Director of Children’s Services over many months failed to prompt them into taking action to prevent this woman getting so physically close to the child she had threatened with violence. They failed to safeguard a vulnerable and intimidated child witness.
Except for the outstanding commitment of the local Crown prosecutor, the case might never have reached the courts. The offender received a suspended prison sentence and a restraining order for several years. The judge told her she was unfit to be allowed near children and asked for his comments to be forwarded to the Director of Children’s Services.

After the court case, the Independent Police Complaints Commission required the Chief Constable to meet with my partner and I during which the failings of his force were carefully and forensically set out. He was accompanied by a solicitor from the Police Authority who made notes. He apologised and assured us that he would take action to address our concerns.
A few years on it would seem the previous chief officer’s assurances have not yet been implemented.

I would hope that your readers, especially parents, will hold the present Chief Constable and his crime commissioner fully accountable if they do not act upon the HMIC report so that our children are properly protected from those who wish them harm.