HMICFRS
His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) independently assesses the effectiveness and efficiency of police forces and fire and rescue services – in the public interest.
The PEEL Assessment
PEEL (police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy) is HMICFRS’ regular assessment of police forces in England and Wales. HMICFRS use inspection findings, analysis and professional judgment to assess how good forces are in several areas of policing. Most of these areas are then graded as outstanding, good, adequate, requires improvement or inadequate.
Further information on the PEEL assessment 2025-27, including changes from the previous round of inspections and what is required to receive a ‘good’ grade in the areas assessed, can be found here on the HMICFRS website.
Kent Police’s PEEL 2025-27 inspection report was published on 9 April 2026. The inspection assessed how good Kent Police is in eight areas of policing, with the force receiving the following graded judgements:
HMICFRS’ full report and infographic, as well as the Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable’s responses can be viewed below:
Kent PEEL Assessment 2025-27: Police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy
Responses to other published HMICFRS reports
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Report title |
An inspection of how effective police forces are in the deployment of firearms |
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Published date |
11 July 2023 |
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Type |
Thematic |
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Recommendations |
Chief Constable |
Yes |
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Police & Crime Commissioner |
No |
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Areas for Improvement |
No |
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Police & Crime Commissioner’s response |
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Chief Constable’s response |
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Report title |
An inspection of the eastern regional response to serious and organised crime |
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Published date |
19 May 2023 |
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Type |
Kent (and eastern region forces) specific |
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Recommendations |
Chief Constable |
No |
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Police & Crime Commissioner |
No |
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Areas for Improvement |
Yes |
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Police & Crime Commissioner’s response |
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Chief Constable’s response |
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Report title |
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Published date |
5 April 2023 |
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Type |
Thematic |
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Recommendations |
Chief Constable |
Yes |
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Police & Crime Commissioner |
Yes |
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Areas for Improvement |
No |
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Police & Crime Commissioner’s response |
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Chief Constable’s response |
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Report title |
An inspection of how well the police tackle serious youth violence |
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Published date |
8 March 2023 |
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Type |
Thematic |
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Recommendations |
Chief Constable |
Yes |
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Police & Crime Commissioner |
No |
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Areas for Improvement |
No |
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Police & Crime Commissioner’s response |
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Chief Constable’s response |
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Report title |
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Published date |
1 December 2022 |
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Type |
Thematic |
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Recommendations |
Chief Constable |
Yes |
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Police & Crime Commissioner |
No |
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Areas for Improvement |
No |
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Police & Crime Commissioner’s response |
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Chief Constable’s response |
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Report title
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PEEL 20/21: Police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy. |
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Published date |
28 April 2022 |
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Type |
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Kent Specific |
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Recommendations
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Chief Constable |
No |
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Police and Crime Commissioner |
No |
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Areas for improvement |
Yes |
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Police & Crime Commissioner’s response
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Chief Constable’s response |
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Report title |
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Published date |
5 August 2021 |
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Type |
Thematic |
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Recommendations |
Chief Constable |
Yes |
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Police & Crime Commissioner |
No |
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Areas for Improvement |
No |
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Police & Crime Commissioner’s response |
View here |
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Chief Constable’s response |
View here |
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Report title |
PEEL: Police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy 2018/19 – Kent Police |
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Published date |
2 May 2019 |
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Type |
Kent specific |
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Recommendations |
Chief Constable |
No |
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Police & Crime Commissioner |
No |
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Areas for Improvement |
Yes |
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Police & Crime Commissioner’s response |
View here |
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Chief Constable’s response |
View here |
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Report title |
Fraud: Time to choose - An inspection of the police response to fraud |
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Published date |
2 April 2019 |
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Type |
Thematic |
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Recommendations |
Chief Constable |
Yes |
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Police & Crime Commissioner |
No |
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Areas for Improvement |
Yes |
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Police & Crime Commissioner’s response |
View here |
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Chief Constable’s response |
View here |
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Report title |
Kent Police: Crime Date Integrity re-inspection 2018 |
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Published date |
15 January 2019 |
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Type |
Kent specific |
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Recommendations |
Chief Constable |
No |
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Police & Crime Commissioner |
No |
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Areas for Improvement |
No |
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Police & Crime Commissioner’s response |
View here |
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Chief Constable’s response |
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Force Management Statement
HMICFRS requires police forces to prepare and submit their own detailed self-assessments. These reports, called Force Management Statements, are centred around each force assessing its short to medium-term future demand and stating how that demand might be met or managed.
Kent Police has published abridged versions of its Force management statements here.