CRITICISM of Dorset Police by Ofsted head Sir Michael Wilshaw is not based on accurate data, a top officer has said.

Sir Michael mentioned the force in an open letter to HM Inspectorate of Constabulary.

The letter concerned the failure of some forces to take their child protection responsibilities seriously.

Dorset’s children’s services was rated as ‘requires improvement’, while inspectors said the Dorset Safeguarding Children Board is ‘inadequate’ and marked one ‘serious failure.’

Deputy Chief Constable James Vaughan said the letter “infers” that the force doesn’t take child protection conferences seriously enough, with Sir Michael claiming that the county’s officers attend just one in three.

However, of the 293 conferences in the first six months of 2016, police attended 244 - 83 per cent. Reports were provided to 97 per cent of the conferences.

Nationally, ten work days’ notice is usually given ahead of such meetings.

Officers from Dorset will try to attend with three days’ notice, DCC Vaughan said.

The letter also mentioned backlogs in Disclosure and Barring Service.

DCC Vaughan said that during 2015, the force experienced delays in processing applications which led to a considerable and “unacceptable” backlog.

This has now been dealt with, he said.