New Police Rankings Reveal North East Results

People across Newcastle and the wider North East are increasingly searching to find out how Northumbria Police compares with other forces after the publication of the first Police Performance System rankings from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services, known as HMICFRS.

The new system gives every police force in England and Wales a performance level designed to provide a clearer picture of how well each organisation is operating and whether additional support is needed. Unlike traditional inspection reports, the new rankings will be updated three times each year, giving residents a more regular snapshot of policing performance.

What are the new police performance rankings.

The Police Performance System replaces the previous "Scan and Engage" process used by HMICFRS.

Instead of waiting years between full inspections, every force is now assigned one of four performance levels.

Level 1 - Performing well with no significant concerns and no additional intervention required.
Level 2 - Some areas require improvement and closer monitoring.
Level 3 - Significant concerns requiring targeted improvement support.
Level 4 - The most serious level, equivalent to Special Measures, where intensive oversight is required.

The aim is not simply to rank police forces from best to worst. Instead, the framework identifies where support should be directed before problems become more serious, while recognising forces demonstrating continuous improvement.

How are police forces measured.

HMICFRS considers a wide range of operational data before assigning each force a level.

Inspectors examine areas including crime investigation standards, emergency response, neighbourhood policing, victim care, leadership, workforce wellbeing, financial management, safeguarding vulnerable people and how effectively forces learn from previous inspections.

The performance levels also sit alongside the existing PEEL inspections, which continue to assess police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy in much greater detail. Together, they are intended to provide both an immediate overview and a more comprehensive long-term assessment of policing standards.

Where does Northumbria Police stand.

Northumbria Police serves more than 1.5 million people across Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland and Northumberland, making it the largest police force in the North East.

While the force has previously received mostly Adequate grades and one Good grading in its latest PEEL inspection, HMICFRS has highlighted ongoing work to improve services for victims, investigations and overall performance.

The new Police Performance System is designed to monitor those improvements more regularly rather than waiting several years between inspections. For residents, it means future changes in performance should become visible much sooner.

How do the North East forces compare.

The North East is served by three territorial police forces.

Durham Constabulary has been placed in Level 1 under the inaugural Police Performance System, meaning inspectors believe the force is making continuous improvements with no significant causes for concern. HMICFRS says forces at this level may even be asked to share examples of good practice nationally.

Northumbria Police continues to work through recommendations identified during previous inspections while serving the region's largest population and some of its busiest urban areas, including Newcastle and Sunderland.

Cleveland Police also remains subject to regular independent assessment through both the Police Performance System and PEEL inspections, with performance data published by its Police and Crime Commissioner.

Because each force covers very different communities, direct comparisons should always be viewed with caution. Northumbria polices major city centres, football matches, night-time economies, coastal communities and extensive rural areas, while Durham and Cleveland operate across very different geographical and demographic challenges.

Why the rankings matter to local people.

For most residents, police performance is measured by everyday experiences rather than inspection reports.

People want emergency calls answered quickly, crimes investigated thoroughly and neighbourhood officers visible within their communities.

The new performance system aims to improve accountability by publishing updates three times a year, allowing the public to see whether their local force is improving, remaining stable or requiring additional support.

Other Northumbria Police statistics worth knowing.

Northumbria Police covers approximately 2,000 square miles and serves around 1.5 million residents across six local authority areas.

The force investigates tens of thousands of recorded crimes every year, ranging from neighbourhood offences and anti-social behaviour to organised crime, cyber crime and major investigations.

Funding also remains a major issue. Government figures show Northumbria Police will receive around £442 million during the 2026-27 financial year, representing an increase of just over £20 million compared with the previous year.

Like police forces across England and Wales, Northumbria continues investing in neighbourhood policing, digital investigations and protecting vulnerable victims while responding to increasing demand linked to online crime, mental health incidents and safeguarding.

What happens next.

The first Police Performance System publication represents the beginning of a new approach rather than the final judgement on any police force.

With assessments expected three times every year, residents across Newcastle and the North East will be able to monitor progress far more frequently than under previous inspection arrangements.

For Northumbria Police, future updates will show whether ongoing improvements identified through PEEL inspections are translating into stronger overall performance under the new national monitoring framework.

Police performance will always remain an issue of significant public interest because it affects everything from emergency response times to public confidence in keeping communities safe. The introduction of more frequent performance updates means local people should have a clearer understanding of how their force is performing and where further improvements are still needed.

Share your experiences.

Have you noticed changes in policing where you live across Newcastle or the North East?