ONE in five crimes in Devon and Cornwall are not recorded due to 'inexcusably poor' police failures, a new report has revealed.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary said a 19 per cent national average of under-recording crime was 'indefensible'.

The highly critical report looked at more than 8,000 reports of crime to the police between November 2012 and October 2013.

Inspectors found that Devon and Cornwall police should have formally classified 117 crimes compared to the 98 that were.

Bill Skelly, Devon and Cornwall police Deputy Chief Constable, said: 'As an organisation we need to fully digest the HMIC's report and review all of their recommendations, but we are grateful for it.

'Having said that, it is clear that while there are some areas we must address and we are doing so, the report also highlights areas of good performance.

'The report identifies that Devon and Cornwall police has robust leadership and a sound culture in the way crime is recorded in Devon and Cornwall.

'We do not deliberately over or under report crime – which is what we fully expected HMIC to find.

'It is important to make the point that this report looked at our processes, not how we treat victims or actually investigate crime – this was about the way crime is recorded.

'It is hugely important that people in Devon and Corn­wall have confidence in the way we record crime and this report acknowledges that we have ethical and victim-centred processes in place.

'Of the recommendations raised by HMIC, such as some cases not being recorded as a crime but as an incident, we have already changed some of our processes as a result of initial feedback received and are in the process of dealing with the others.

'While this has not changed the actual investigation process and service to the victim, we recognise this is a more transparent approach and this can assist in building public confidence. Of course, crime figures are only one measure of performance.

'Public confidence in our ability to do our job properly and satisfaction levels among victims and witnesses of crime are other, equally relevant measures.

'Modern policing is all about providing the best service possible with the resources available and learning is a critical part of progress.

'There will always be lessons to be learnt, that's how we improve and HMIC has a valuable role to play in that process.'

The report also found faults with Devon and Cornwall police's recording of 'no crimes'. Out of 104 'no crimes' reported by the force, 10 were found to be inaccurate.

The HMIC found that across England and Wales too many crimes were removed or cancelled as recorded crimes for no good reason. The report added that out of the 3,246 decisions to cancel, or record a no crime, 664 were incorrect.'

Chief Inspector of Constab­ulary Tom Winsor said: 'The first duty of the police is to protect the public and reduce crime.

'A national crime-recording rate of 81 per cent is inexcusably poor. Failure properly to record crime is indefensible.

'This is not about numbers and dry statistics; it's about victims and the protection of the public. The position in the case of rape and other sexual offences is a matter of especially serious concern.

'The inspection found 37 cases of rape which were not recorded as crimes.

'The national rate of under-recording of sexual offences – includ­ing rapes – as crimes was 26 per cent, and the national rate of incorrect decisions to no-crime rapes was 20 per cent.

'These are wholly unacceptable failings. Some forces have exemplary records in this respect, and some others are very bad.

'It is particularly important that in cases as serious as rape, these shortcomings are put right as a matter of the greatest urgency.

'In some forces, action is already being taken in this respect. The police should immediately institutionalise the presumption that the victim is to be believed.

'If evidence later comes to light which shows that no crime occurred, then the record should be corrected; that is how the system is supposed to work.

'Victims need and are entitled to support and assistance. They, and their communities, are entitled to justice.

'Failures in crime recording can also increase the risks to victims and the community of the denial of justice. The police therefore need to take this subject very seriously.

'Trust in what the police tell people about crime is part of the essential trust which the public must have in the police.'