Gloucestershire's Chief Constable has hit back at a new report that brands the force inadequate or requiring improvement in major areas of policing.

Suzette Davenport says she is "angry and saddened" and warns that the report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary throws into question just whose mandate the police should be following.

The HMIC report pulls no punches in its strong criticism of Gloucestershire Constabulary and its effectiveness in keeping people safe and reducing crime.

The report say the force "requires improvement" in preventing crime and tackling anti-social behaviour; how it investigates crime and reduces re-offending and how it protects the vulnerable from harm and supports victims.

Gloucestershire Constabulary is said to be "inadequate" in how it tackles serious and organised crime.

HM Inspector of Constabulary Wendy Williams said: "I am concerned that, since our last inspection, Gloucestershire Constabulary still requires improvement in the way in which it effectively keeps people safe and reduces crime."

She adds that the force's inadequate management of serious and organised crime "must be addressed urgently."

But Gloucestershire's Chief Constable Suzette Davenport (pictured) says the findings do not reflect the Constabulary or officers serving the people of Gloucestershire:

"I am angry and sadden by HMIC's report and have spoken to HMI Wendy Williams and urged her to reconsider the grading based on the evidence set out in her own organisation's report," she said.

"Crime rates are down year on year in Gloucestershire. This is compared with an increase of 7.8 per cent across all forces in England and Wales over the same period. In fact we are below the national rate for sexual offences, assault with injury and burglary in a dwelling.

"The HMIC inspectors criticised our approach to anti-social behaviour but in the 12 months to 30 March 2016, Gloucestershire recorded 40 incidents of anti-social behaviour (per 1,000 population). This is 2 per cent fewer incidents over the 12 month period. It comes as some forces (Bedfordshire, Lincolnshire, Staffordshire and South Yorkshire) saw an increase.

"Furthermore, we have seen a vast improvement in our public satisfaction ratings. This is as a result of a huge amount of work by all officers and staff and has taken us from one of the worst performing forces in the country to one of the best.

"I have expressed my concerns to HMIC and would like to publicly point out that this report detracts from our day to day policing and forces us to focus on areas determined by HMIC rather than Gloucestershire's democratically elected Police and Crime Commissioner.

" I will be urging the Home Secretary to clarify which mandate the Constabulary should be following, especially if, or when, the two differ.

"As ever, we will look to use the information provided to continue to improve our ability to protect the public and provide a good quality of service which is what motivates me and nearly 1800 other people to come to work."

Earlier this year the Chief Constable announced she would be retiring in April after four years in the job and over 30 years in the police service.

What do you think? Email mark@moosemarketingandpr.co.uk