Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary

Abstract

The introduction of an inspectorate followed the passing of the County and Borough Police Act in 1856. This Act was important because through it Parliament acknowledged that central government had a responsibility to ensure that a regular law enforcement agency was established in every county and borough throughout the Kingdom and that it had a responsibility to ensure that all police forces were operating in an efficient manner. The Inspectors of Constabulary were introduced to ensure that local authorities complied with the statutory requirement to establish police forces and that those forces maintained a minimum standard of efficiency. They were also authorised to see that the newly introduced government grant (originally 25 per cent but increased to 50 per cent in 1874 and 51 per cent in 1986) was both deserved and properly applied.