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Bedfordshire police 'rated worst' | Bedfordshire police 'rated worst' |
(30 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. |
READ THE REPORT class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/9_10_07policeperformance.pdf">Police performance assessments 2006/7 [1.1MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html">Download the reader here | |
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 government's Police Performance Assessments rates the 43 forces in seven different categories, with a rating given of excellent, good, fair or poor. | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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: | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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." |
What do you think about the unofficial league table? What are your experiences of dealing with the police? Send your comments using the form below. | What do you think about the unofficial league table? What are your experiences of dealing with the police? Send your comments using the form below. |