Shropshire and Mid Wales police forces told to improve by inspector

West Mercia Police, which covers Shropshire, needs to do more to "understand the threat and risk from serious and organised crime", according to the nationwide report from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary.

The force also needs to improve ways it keeps people safe and reduces crime. It was also told it required improvement in its approach to protecting vulnerable people as part of the inspection in December 2015.

The NSPCC today said it found it "deeply disturbing" that the force was still not tackling child sexual exploitation effectively.

Dyfed-Powys Police was praised for its efforts preventing crime and anti-social behaviour and tackling serious and organised crime. But it needs to improve the ways it manages offenders and investigates crime, according to the report.

Both forces were handed a "requires improvement" rating from HMIC along with 16 others across England and Wales.

Some 24 were rated good and one – Durham Police – was judged to be outstanding.

HMIC inspector Wendy Williams said: "Following our assessment, HMIC judged that West Mercia Police needs to improve aspects of how it keeps people safe and reduces crime, although we found some areas of positive practice in the force. The force needs to do more to understand the threat and risk from serious and organised crime. It has only completed a serious and organised crime profile for one of its five local policing areas."

Adam Burling, spokesman for the NSPCC, said: "It's deeply disturbing that West Mercia Police are still not tackling child sexual exploitation effectively, though the force has made a start. As more victims of child abuse and exploitation continue to come forward, it's essential that all police forces are properly trained and equipped to respond to these most horrific of crimes."

Assistant Chief Constable Chris Singer, of West Mercia Police, said the force had welcomed the findings, which confirmed it is good at investigating crime and managing offenders.

He added that the public could feel confident that the forces were working well to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour and keep people safe.

He said: "The HMIC Police Effectiveness report also praises the force for demonstrating a strong commitment to protecting people from harm and working in partnership to tackle problems of concern for the community."

Deputy Chief Constable Liane James, of Dyfed-Powys Police, said: "Today's report recognises our efforts to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour and praises our approach and abilities in tackling serious and organised crime."