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| Press Releases |
| Public Support for Neighbourhood Policing |
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Wednesday, 19 August, 2009
Neighbourhood Policing is having a positive impact on many people’s quality of life, according to the latest results of West Yorkshire Police Authority’s regular postal survey of residents.
Over the last 12 months, the responses of those surveyed to the majority of questions have steadily improved.
The Police Authority’s Public Perception Survey asks a random sample of residents questions about their local area, the level of crime and anti-social behaviour and policing. Over the last 12 months, 17,000 residents have completed and returned the survey.
Overall there has been a drop in the number of people who say that the level of crime and anti-social behaviour in their local area is increasing. Of the two, reductions in anti-social behaviour have been the most significant with 10% fewer people saying it had increased compared to the results from June 2008.
There are also reductions in the number of people who are saying that certain kinds of crime and disorder are a big problem in their local area. The crime showing the biggest reductions are people using or dealing drugs; violent crime; teenagers hanging around; vandalism, graffiti and criminal damage and drunk and rowdy behaviour.
The one exception to the trend is in relation to property crime, where more people think it is a big problem in their local area.
The results from a number of the survey questions point to the success of Neighbourhood Policing more clearly:
1. Over 1 in 3 people now know how to contact their local Neighbourhood Policing Team.
2. There has been an increase in the number of people who say that police and local council are dealing with the crime and anti-social issues that matter.
3. There has also been an increase in the number of people who say the police can be relied upon to be there when needed and think they are doing a good or excellent job.
4. Satisfaction with visible police patrol, either by car or on foot, has also started to show an improvement.
Councillor Les Carter, Vice-Chair of the Police Authority and Chair of the Local Policing Committee that monitors the survey, said “I’m delighted to see such an improvement in these results, which can only be down to the success of Neighbourhood Policing, the Policing Pledge and a greater focus on customer service.
“While the results are pleasing and point to improved performance, we will not rest on our laurels. There is still a lot of work going on, led by the Chief Constable and Command Team, to improve the service to residents across the Force as a whole.”
Members of the Police Authority see the survey results every six months and make sure that the Force is using the information to improve performance. More detailed reports can be seen in the papers for the Authority’s Local Policing and Partnerships Committee meetings that take place after the end of March and September each year. These can be found by clicking on this link which will take you to the papers for this Committee. Paper copies can be requested by telephoning (01924) 294000 |
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