Government inspectors have slammed Croydon Police in a damning report which said its management team was "fractured, disunited and potentially inefficient".

The report published by Her Majesty's Inspectorate for Constabulary (HMIC) also revealed startling shortcomings in the borough's police force.

Officers are making an average of just three arrests each every month and the force has 284 outstanding warrants - 25 of which relate to serious crimes.

Completed paperwork for resolved crimes is being stockpiled and not submitted - potentially breaching Home Office rules - which is reportedly done to avoid pressure from senior management.

It also said that a formula that helped solve date rape cases had not been implemented properly.

However, the report's harsher criticisms were saved for the force's senior management team (SNT).

The report reads: "With the notable exception of the Basic Command Unit Commander, the senior management team were considered by many staff to be fractured, disunited and lacking a single position on BCU issues, policies and strategy.

"This was particularly evident within operations with a number of sensible suggestions for improvement within CID being suppressed or disregarded.

"The current structure for the deployment of core team chief inspectors is potentially inefficient and could undermine the identity of a single borough."

Describing the quality of primary investigations as "poor", the report adds: "Common mistakes included a failure to notify victims and suspects of the detection, insufficient evidence and lack of justification for there being no purpose in proceeding with the charge."

However, the report also highlighted strengths within the force, praising the force's good use of antisocial behaviour orders and the impact of borough commander Mark Gore.

In its summary, the report said: "The greatest challenge for the BCU is to create and develop a cohesive, dynamic and united SMT with a single vision and clarity of purpose.

"All other change management activity depends upon this and it is unlikely to be successful without it."

The report is based on an inspection conducted between March 6 and March 10 this year.

Graham Speed, chairman of Croydon's Community Police Consultative Group, said while the report recognised the force's achievements it was "very disappointing and critical" in many areas.

He added: "There is clearly much to be done to rectify this situation and to improve detection rates, especially concerning violent crime and robbery. It is clear that the borough's police need to follow a programme of change in order to maximise their capacity and capability.

"I believe that the necessary changes will be achievable but challenging under the positive leadership demonstrated by Mark Gore and very much see the work of the Croydon Community Police Consultative Group (CCPCG) in its role as a critical friend to the borough's police as having a significant role to play in monitoring that progress."

Councillor Steve O'Connell, cabinet member for public protection and crime reduction, said: "The report is disappointing but it is slightly historic. It was written some time ago, I believe, because lots has already been done to address the criticisms around management and detection rates.

"Much has already been done by borough commander Mark Gore to address the issues raised in the report and the force is moving in the right direction, although we remain concerned about robbery."

Croydon's borough commander Chief Superintendent Mark Gore is expected to give an official response to the report in the next week.

Turn to page eight for the latest crime figures.

What do you think? Click on the comment button below, email letters@croydonguardian.co.uk or write to Croydon Guardian, Unecol House, 819 London Road, North Cheam, Surrey, SM3 9BN.