England and Wales Police Rated Under New Performance System

A new national system rating the performance of every police force in England and Wales has been launched, with the majority receiving the highest grade but more than a dozen requiring enhanced support. The Policing Performance System, introduced by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) on July 16, 2026, assigns each of the 43 forces to one of four levels, ranging from Level One, the default, to Level Four, which signifies special measures for the most significant issues.

Under the new framework, 29 forces were assigned to Level One, indicating no immediate intervention is needed. These include Sussex Police, Northumbria Police, Durham Constabulary, and the Yorkshire forces of North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, and Humberside. Thirteen forces were placed in Level Two, meaning they have performance issues requiring oversight and continued support. Warwickshire Police, Staffordshire Police, and West Yorkshire Police are among those at this level. Lincolnshire Police is the sole force assigned to Level Three. No force was placed into Level Four special measures.

The inspectorate stated the system is designed to identify concerns earlier...