This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7035293.stm
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Bedfordshire police 'rated worst' | Bedfordshire police 'rated worst' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Bedfordshire is the worst-performing police force in England and Wales, an unofficial league table suggests. | Bedfordshire is the worst-performing police force in England and Wales, an unofficial league table suggests. |
| The 2006-2007 Home Office ratings suggested that Thames Valley, Wiltshire and Greater Manchester were the next worst-performing forces. | The 2006-2007 Home Office ratings suggested that Thames Valley, Wiltshire and Greater Manchester were the next worst-performing forces. |
| Meanwhile, Surrey and Lancashire were joint top in the unofficial table. | Meanwhile, Surrey and Lancashire were joint top in the unofficial table. |
| Sir Ronnie Flanagan, chief inspector of constabulary, said most forces had made significant improvements following last year's inspection. | Sir Ronnie Flanagan, chief inspector of constabulary, said most forces had made significant improvements following last year's inspection. |
| But some had identified specific areas for improvement, he added. | But some had identified specific areas for improvement, he added. |
| The notion that this is still an inefficient public service is wrong Tony McNultyHome Office minister | |
| He said that in Bedfordshire inspectors were working with the chief constable to turn the problems around. | He said that in Bedfordshire inspectors were working with the chief constable to turn the problems around. |
| "It is not going to be a perfect picture across the board and no-one here is trying to pretend that is the case," he said. | "It is not going to be a perfect picture across the board and no-one here is trying to pretend that is the case," he said. |
| Sir Ronnie went on to argue that police forces had improved the way they protected vulnerable people. | Sir Ronnie went on to argue that police forces had improved the way they protected vulnerable people. |
| Despite this improvement, he said there must be no let-up in efforts to identify, manage and reduce risk to the public. | Despite this improvement, he said there must be no let-up in efforts to identify, manage and reduce risk to the public. |
| 'Tight' times | |
| The report also revealed that the amount of time spent on the front line by police officers rose by 0.6% on last year to a national average of 64.2% of their working hours. | |
| Home Office Minister Tony McNulty warned that police forces were facing financially "tight" times as the government prepared to publish its Comprehensive Spending Review. | |
| "We are now entering a more flat-line period in terms of resources after seven or eight years of growth," said the minister. | |
| The minister added: "The notion that this is still an inefficient public service is wrong." |