September 25, 2004: Police Performance Improving, say Home Office

Home Office figures has just published figures suggest that police performance in England and Wales in the fields of crime investigation and crime reduction is improving. Statistics indicate that the police succeeded in reducing burglary by eight per cent, robbery by nine per cent and vehicle crime by more than six per cent in 2003/4. The total number of offences brought to justice has increased. They also indicate that almost two thirds of police time is spent on frontline policing.

The performance reports were constructed using Home Office published data supplied by individual police forces, including recorded crime statistics and British Crime Survey findings, as well as some unpublished data on sickness absence in the police service and offences brought to justice. In addition, they report the Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary  Baseline Assessment gradings published in June 2004. They also include previously unpublished data on the amount of time which police officers spend on frontline policing.

The police performance monitors are downloadable here.

According to Home Office Minister Hazel Blears:

"The overall picture of policing performance that emerges is encouraging. Crime and the fear of crime are both down and the number of offences brought to justice has gone up. The reports also identify areas for improvement, most notably in the levels of detections. We are developing a number of strategies to that end including improving forensic techniques such as the use of DNA and fingerprint and footprint images to improve detections."