Mixed data on police performance
New data from the Home Office gives a mixed picture on the police’s success in reducing crime and catching criminals.
According to today’s performance data, while reported crime and the public’s perception of crime is down, the actually percentage of criminals brought to justice has fallen.
The overall detection rate has dropped 0.3 per cent to 18.8 per cent,
In the 2003/4 period the police succeeded in reducing burglary by eight per cent, robbery by nine per cent and vehicle crime by more than six per cent. Data is also given on each force’s performance, measured on its ability to reduce crime, investigate crime, promote public safety, provide assistance and use resources effectively.
Home Office Minister Hazel Blears said the report enabled the public to see how their force was performing.
“The overall picture of policing performance that emerges is encouraging,” she commented. “Crime and the fear of crime are both down and the number of offences brought to justice has gone up.”
However, the monitoring process this year revealed detection rates still needed improvement, the Minister added.
“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,” Ms Blears said.
The Association of Police Authorities (APA) stressed that there has been an improvement in 11 out of the 13 measures. Chairman Baroness Ruth Henig, said: “The monitors provide information on how forces are performing in the areas of promoting public safety, citizen focus, providing assistance, and their use of resources as well as information on crime, such as performance in reducing crime and investigating crime.
“It is pleasing to have performance information that covers a wide range of policing activity and not just an indication of an increase or decrease in crime. However the monitors do not indicate how well each force is performing against its local priorities, which is critical information for local communities.”
