The country’s foremost children’s charity said Hertfordshire Constabulary’s failure to adequately protect vulnerable people was “disturbing”.

Inspectors said they were generally satisfied with most aspects of the force in a recent report.

However it also said the force’s response to vulnerable people was inadequate because of “serious weaknesses” in the way it assesses risk and how it supports some victims.

READ MORE: Inspectors satisfied with 'most' aspects of Hertfordshire Constabulary

Zoe Billingham, Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary, expressed her concerns about the force's approach to protecting some vulnerable people “due to weaknesses in its approach to assessing risk and supporting some victims”.

“The force was not adequately identifying risks, meaning that too often it was not in a position to provide the appropriate levels of support,” she said.

“It was also potentially missing out on opportunities to collect crucial evidence that a crime had been committed.”

The NSPCC said: “It is disturbing that Hertfordshire Police was found to be inadequate in supporting vulnerable victims such as children and young people.

“It is particularly worrying how unresolved cases involving children are being handled – victims are not getting support when they need it and police are missing out on vital opportunities to collect evidence.

“Although it is encouraging to read that forces are recognising their weaknesses when it comes to protecting vulnerable children, this is not enough.

“Forces must urgently look at what they can do to recognise the vulnerable amongst us, listen to their plight, and do everything in their power to bring these offenders to justice and stop them hurting yet more innocent children.”

David Lloyd, the Police and Crime commissioner for Hertfordshire, said he was pleased the most recent report showed improvements were being made.