Sussex Police told to improve crime investigations in new report

Sussex Police has been rated as requiring improvement in its approach to investigating crime, according to a new report by the policing inspectorate.

The findings are part of the latest assessment by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS), which evaluates the performance of all 43 police forces in England and Wales. While Sussex Police received ‘good’ or ‘adequate’ grades in most areas, the force’s investigative work was judged to be below standard, particularly due to a backlog in cases and a charge rate below the national average at the time of inspection.

Chief Constable Jo Shiner acknowledged the concerns, highlighting steps already taken to improve performance. These include moving officers into specialised teams focused on adult and child protection and high-risk offences. According to the force, the number of victim-based crimes with successful outcomes has risen by 51 per cent over two years, with the charge rate increasing to 6.9 per cent in the 12 months to June 2025.