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Bedfordshire police 'rated worst' Bedfordshire police 'rated worst'
(about 1 hour 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 based on Home Office figures suggests.
The 2006-2007 Home Office ratings suggested that Thames Valley, Wiltshire and Greater Manchester were the next worst-performing forces. The 2006-2007 ratings suggested Thames Valley, Greater Manchester, Humberside, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire were among the worst-performing forces.
Meanwhile, Surrey and Lancashire were joint top in the unofficial table. Surrey and Lancashire were among the best performers.
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.
But some had identified specific areas for improvement, he added. Seven categories
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 The government's Police Performance Assessments rate the 43 forces in seven different categories, with a rating given of excellent, good, fair or poor.
He said that in Bedfordshire inspectors were working with the chief constable to turn the problems around. The categories are: tackling crime; resources and efficiency; serious crime and public protection; protecting vulnerable people; satisfaction and fairness; implementation of neighbourhood policing; and local priorities.
"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. Bedfordshire, for instance, was given a "fair" rating for tackling crime, serious crime and public protection, resources and efficiency, and satisfaction and fairness.
Sir Ronnie went on to argue that police forces had improved the way they protected vulnerable people. But it was rated "poor" for protecting vulnerable people, implementation of neighbourhood policing, and local priorities.
Despite this improvement, he said there must be no let-up in efforts to identify, manage and reduce risk to the public. Surrey, by contrast, was rated "excellent" in tackling crime, serious crime and public protection, protecting vulnerable people, implementation of neighbourhood policing, and resources and efficiency.
The government's Police Performance Assessments rates the 43 forces in seven different categories, with a rating given of excellent, good, fair or poor. It was "fair" on satisfaction and fairness, and "good" on local priorities.
Performance categories 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 class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7035593.stm">Unofficial police league table
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" two, "fair" one and "poor" minus-one, 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. Surrey and Lancashire would achieve 18 points, making them the best.
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: Bedfordshire
  • Seven points: Greater Manchester, Humberside, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Thames Valley
  • Eight points: Derbyshire, Gwent, South Wales, Wiltshire
  • Nine points: Devon and Cornwall
  • 10 points: Avon and Somerset, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Cleveland, Durham, Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire
  • 11 points: Essex, Gloucestershire, Kent
  • 12 points: City of London, Dorset, Merseyside, North Wales, Sussex
  • 13 points: Metropolitan, North Yorkshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands
  • 14 points: Norfolk, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
  • 15 points: Dyfed Powys, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Leicestershire, Suffolk, West Mercia
  • 16 points: Cumbria, Northumbria
  • 18 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.
    Sir Ronnie 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.
    '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.
    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."
    Overall the "league table" is as follows:
  • One point: Bedfordshire
  • Seven points: Greater Manchester, Humberside, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Thames Valley
  • Eight points: Derbyshire, Gwent, South Wales, Wiltshire
  • Nine points: Devon and Cornwall
  • 10 points: Avon and Somerset, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Cleveland, Durham, Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire
  • 11 points: Essex, Gloucestershire, Kent
  • 12 points: City of London, Dorset, Merseyside, North Wales, Sussex
  • 13 points: Metropolitan, North Yorkshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands
  • 14 points: Norfolk, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
  • 15 points: Dyfed Powys, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Leicestershire, Suffolk, West Mercia
  • 16 points: Cumbria, Northumbria
  • 18 points: Lancashire, Surrey
    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 police performance? What are your experiences of dealing with the police? Send your comments using the form below.
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