THAMES Valley Police has welcomed the publication of its latest Police Effectiveness, Efficiency and Legitimacy inspection report.
The report is conducted by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), which provides an independent assessment of how the force is performing.
TVP says that the inspection recognised many areas where Thames Valley Police continues to improve and innovate, despite a “complex picture” of rising demand and ongoing financial pressures.
The report also highlighted the commitment of officers, staff and volunteers in delivering for our communities and improving performance across a number of areas.
The workforce grading saw an improvement to ‘Good’, reflecting our work to attract and support a diverse and inclusive workforce.
HMICFRS also recognised the approach of recruiting people from former military careers as ‘innovative’.
Its grading for preventing and deterring crime and anti-social behaviour and reducing vulnerability also improved, with promising practice identified in its approach to tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG), alongside recognition for the work of its Rural Crime Taskforce.
The report also noted improvements in how Thames Valley Police responds to the public.
Police figures show that in the 2025/26 period, demand in contact centres increased, including a 4% rise in 999 calls, with the force handling more than 375,000 emergency calls.
Overall incidents rose by 7% to over 500,000
Despite the rise in demand, TVP improved both call answering and incident attendance times.
It attended more than 106,000 Grade 1 emergencies – over 6,000 more than the previous year – while improving performance in response standards.
At the same time, overall crime reduced by 2%.
This included reductions in knife crime (10%), theft from the person (32%), vehicle crime (9%), possession of weapon offences (11%), shoplifting (9%), residential burglary (3%) and rural crime (34%).
A press statement from Thames Valley Police explained: “While we welcome the progress recognised within the report, we know there is more to do.
“We remain committed to building on these strong foundations, adapting to emerging threats and changing demand, and delivering the best possible service to our communities in line with one of our core values, ‘strive to improve every day’.”
Deputy Chief Constable Ben Snuggs said: “We welcome this report and the clear, independent assessment it provides. Scrutiny of this kind plays an important part in helping us stay focused on delivering the high standards the public expects.
“I am very encouraged to see recognition of our strong neighbourhood policing and prevention work, which is the cornerstone of effective policing. Equally, that the commitment which our officers, staff and volunteers show every day in protecting our communities through their dedicated service underpins everything we do.
“At the same time, we are clear that there is more to do. We are focused on strengthening the quality and consistency of our investigations, enhancing how we identify and safeguard vulnerable people and building on the progress we have already made in our service delivery.
“We are already taking action to develop our investigative capability, invest in our people and ensure we are making the most effective use of our resources to meet demand.
“Our priorities and focus remain unchanged: to fight crime, serve victims, build community trust and value our people.
“We are determined to build on the progress highlighted in this report and continue to be an excellent police force, trusted by the communities we are privileged to serve.”
