A “BLAME CULTURE” pervaded oversight of the Royal Navy’s police and its internal investigations unit was “something to be feared,” a new report found yesterday.

However, a “more supportive approach” has recently emerged that focuses on “improving standards through coaching and mentoring.”

The comments were made by the Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services after conducting its second-ever review of the navy’s police, focusing on its professional standards unit.

Inspectors visited naval bases at Portsmouth and Plymouth and observed police on board HMS Defender, one of the new Type 45 destroyers.

Although the report “did not find any significant deficiencies,” four areas for improvement were highlighted. These included the police’s use of “self-assessments” at shore bases, which were only inspected biennially.

The findings of self-assessments were not routinely passed on to the standards team, leaving it “unable to review any activity the [police] units undertake,” the report warned.