Performance and Measurement

Summary

Avon and Somerset Constabulary covers 1,855 square miles, with a population of 1.5 million. It serves four unitary authorities and the county of Somerset. The force area encompasses a diverse range of policing environments, including Bristol, which is the largest conurbation in South West England, Bath one of the country’s leading tourist destinations and the historic centres of Wells and Glastonbury. There is an extensive motorway network, with major traffic flows to the rest of the South West and to South Wales, and international connections at Bristol Airport and Avonmouth docks. Major annual events include the Glastonbury international music festival and the Bristol International Balloon Festival.

The force’s strategic aims from 2008 to 2011 are to reduce crime and increase the number of offences brought to justice, deliver a high quality of service according to need, achieve high levels of customer satisfaction and be a top-performing force in all main service areas, promote safety in communities through enhanced local policing provision, improve public protection and increase trust and confidence in the force. Particular priorities in 2008/09 are a continued improvement in priority crime detection rates, delivery of a challenging transformation programme and the successful development of the Southwest One partnership.

In 2008, HMIC inspected the Constabulary in respect of Major Crime, Serious and Organised Crime, Neighbourhood Policing and Developing Citizen Focused Policing, with each found to be ‘meeting the standard’. The inspection reports were considered to be positive with numerous strengths identified. The areas for improvement identified by HMIC are currently being reviewed and built into the Constabulary’s forward planning processes.

During 2007/08, significant progress has been made against a challenging agenda of performance improvement set by the police authority. High priority has been given to improving customer satisfaction with major reductions in recorded crime delivered, resulting in 15,800 fewer victims. The overall detection rate has increased to over 25% with significant increases in the proportion of rape and hate crime detected. Additionally, an 8% (2,600 a year) increase in the number of offences brought to justice is welcomed.

The force has achieved a statistically significant increase in the satisfaction of all users with the ease of contact from 85.8% in 2006 – 07 to 90.4% in 2007 – 08 (excluding victims of racist incidents and anti social behaviour). The annual target of 3% efficiency savings has again been achieved, releasing resources to deliver operational policing.

In 2007, HMIC inspected the Constabulary for delivery of neighbourhood Policing, Performance Management and Protecting Vulnerable People, with the grading of each being either good or fair. Of the areas for improvement identified, the majority have been successfully delivered with the remainder on track for timely completion.

Throughout 2007/08, the police authority and force have been actively involved in Southwest One – a partnership with Taunton Deane District Council, Somerset County Council and IBM. A contract was initiated in April 2008, which was followed by a near seamless transition to a new Joint Venture Company structure servicing numerous back office functions and bringing with it the opportunity for new investment in technology and business process re-engineering. Savings in both money and time will be reinvested into frontline service delivery. The Constabulary has also led in the development of a collaborative project involving 14 other forces in order to jointly procure external forensic services, which will provide considerable economies of scale and complimentary business benefits to be realised.