Only a third of a sample of police authorities inspected are setting effective long-term strategic plans for themselves or their force, finds a joint report by HMIC and the Audit Commission. As a result, they are not doing enough to identify and deliver policing priorities for their area.

The report, ‘Learning Lessons’ urges police authorities to make hard decisions to focus their time and effort in ways which will make the biggest difference to how the police serve their communities.

The inspectorates found that most authorities do not have a clear enough focus on how forces provide value for money. As a result, the public cannot be assured that the police will provide a service that matches public expectations in the longer term.

Learning Lessons is available from the Audit Commission http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/Pages/20100315bymutualagreement.aspx