Performance and Measurement
Assessment Methods
The Policing Performance Assessment Framework (PPAF) is an initiative led by the Home Office, with the support of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the Association of Police Authorities (APA).
Improved police performance is central to the government’s vision of better public services. Until the Policing Performance Assessment Framework, the police service had lagged behind many other public services in terms of the extent, robustness and transparency of the framework for assessing its performance.
Features
The Policing Performance Assessment Framework is about 'policing' as a whole and is designed to reflect the breadth of modern policing. It is about the contribution of local communities and other organisations, as well as the police service itself.
In addition to focusing on operational effectiveness, the Policing Performance Assessment Framework provides measures of satisfaction plus overall trust and confidence in the police, as well as measures that put performance into context in terms of efficiency and organisational capability. In line with the government’s desire to enhance policing accountability at a local level, performance against local priorities is also assessed.
More specifically, the Policing Performance Assessment Framework will also help demonstrate success in achieving the key priorities stipulated in National Community Safety Plans. These include providing a citizen-focused service to the public, tackling anti-social behaviour and disorder, continuing to reduce crime in line with the government’s public service agreements, combating serious/organised crime, and narrowing the justice gap.
Performance Indicators
Data collected via performance indicators was used in the production of the first Police Performance Assessments 2004/05 (October 2005). It was aggregated with the HMIC Baseline Assessments to provide assessments of performance in every force.
A list of frequently asked questions about these assessments is also available.
In May 2006, Accenture carried out some work to identify examples of good practice within forces for the 2006/07 indicators.This guidance is not intended to be compulsory, but demonstrates examples of what has worked for individual forces in improving their performance in these areas:
The statutory instruments listing the indicators for 2004/05, 2005/06 and 2006/07 are available on Office for Public Sector Information website (new window).
Note for 2007/08: An order for 2007/08 has not been made, which in effect, means that the 2006/07 SPIs remain unchanged for 2007/08.
Guidance documents detailing how the measures in each year are calculated are available below. Within the Home Office, the Police and Crime Standards Directorate is leading on the assessment of forces against these indicators, as well as the dissemination of this performance data to police forces, police authorities, Crime Disorder and Reduction Partnerships and the public.
If you would like further information on this work please email the PSU team.
Technical Guidance and Other Information
For guidance from previous years, visit the technical guidance page. Please note that the year relates to the assessment year. For example, for guidance on SPIs used for the 2005/06 assessment you should consult the 2005/06 guidance document and not the most recent version.
