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
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.
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, despite a drive in recent years.
The government's Police Performance Assessments rates the 43 forces in seven different categories, with a rating given of excellent, good, fair or poor.
Performance categories
The categories in which forces were assessed were: tackling crime; resources and efficiency; serious crime and public protection; protecting vulnerable people; satisfaction and fairness; implementation of neighbourhood policing; local priorities.
If each "excellent" rating was worth three points, "good" equated to two, "fair" was one and "poor" carried a minus one rating, achieving maximum points in each of the seven categories would mean a score of 21 points.
Under such a system, Bedfordshire would only achieve one point, making it the worst-performing force in England and Wales.
Overall the results would be as follows:
One point: BedfordshireSeven points: Greater Manchester, Humberside, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Thames ValleyEight points: Derbyshire, Gwent, South Wales, WiltshireNine points: Devon and Cornwall10 points: Avon and Somerset, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Cleveland, Durham, Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire11 points: Essex, Gloucestershire, Kent12 points: City of London, Dorset, Merseyside, North Wales, Sussex13 points: Metropolitan, North Yorkshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands14 points: Norfolk, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire15 points: Dyfed Powys, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Leicestershire, Suffolk, West Mercia16 points: Cumbria, Northumbria18 points: Lancashire, Surrey
The Home Office says it does not add up marks in this way.
Ministers say it is "erroneous" to compile a national league table from the statistics, which compare forces with other similar forces and not as a national group.
'Tight' times
'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, despite a drive in recent years.
Two years ago the government pledged to provide every community in the country with its own dedicated policing team by 2008 as part of its Neighbourhood Policing strategy.
Two years ago the government pledged to provide every community in the country with its own dedicated policing team by 2008 as part of its Neighbourhood Policing strategy.
Home Office Minister Tony McNulty warned that police forces were facing financially "tight" times as the government prepared to publish its Comprehensive Spending Review.
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.
"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."
The minister added: "The notion that this is still an inefficient public service is wrong."
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