Performance and Measurement

Summary

Northumbria is the country’s sixth largest police force, covering a population of 1.4 million people in a mix of urban and rural areas. The force has six area commands, coterminous with local authority boundaries.

In 2006/07, the force recorded almost 3,000 (2.2%) fewer crimes than in the previous year, maintaining a consistent trend of crime reduction achieved over the last 15 years. In the last 12 months, 51,628 offences were detected, nearly 6,000 more than in the previous year, representing a rise in the sanction detection rate from 32% to 37.5%. All major categories of crime fell during the year, except violent crime. The rise in violent crime corresponded to increased activity as part of the force’s response to violence and anti-social behaviour, which resulted in a 26% increase in the number of people arrested for violent crime. The level of violent crime remains low when compared with similar forces.

During the year, the force set a number of local priorities. These included reducing violence, criminal damage and anti-social behaviour, as well as improving services to victims and witnesses and raising the satisfaction levels of members of the public who have contact with the force. There has been good progress in nearly all areas except anti-social behaviour, where youth disorder has risen. With regard to public confidence measures, levels of user satisfaction have increased in all areas except ‘ease of contact’. The main indicators for fear of crime have improved, although perceptions of the level of drug taking and anti-social behaviour have remained steady.

The force has a focus on improving its ability to implement Neighbourhood Policing and to respond to serious and organised crime and the threat of terrorism. With the support of the police authority, it has increased its capacity and capability to meet the demands faced in these areas.

The Chief Constable’s vision of ‘Total Policing’ commits the force to a continuously improving, customer-focused service which delivers the capability, capacity and resilience to combat crime and disorder, while working in partnership with other agencies.

This approach means that there is a clear commitment to delivering the force vision of building trust and confidence in communities and reducing crime and disorder.

High-profile campaigns during the year have had a positive impact and include the crackdown on drink related violence and disorder and the ‘End the Silence’ campaign aimed at tackling domestic abuse.

The creation of the force information and intelligence department in July 2006 enhanced the way in which information is handled while building the force’s intelligence gathering and analytical capability.

The force has continued to make progress in creating a diverse and well-trained workforce and will participate in the national workforce modernisation programme with a view to creating mixed economy teams. Reviews of estates management, custody provision and a range of internal administrative processes have strengthened support for front-line policing and have ensured value for money in the delivery of policing services.

Northumbria Police is preparing to meet the future key challenges of enhancing its response to major crime and increasing its ability to provide a customer-focused response to public needs against a background of increasing demand for services.