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New phase of policing pledge campaign makes clear what the public can expect from the police - EMBARGOED: NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR BROADCAST UNTIL 00.01 SATURDAY 21 NOVEMBER

News Release issued by the COI News Distribution Service on 19 November 2009

STRICTLY EMBARGOED: NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR BROADCAST UNTIL 00.01 SATURDAY 21 NOVEMBER

New television, radio, press and online adverts which tell the public what rights they have under the national Policing Pledge were launched today by Home Secretary Alan Johnson.

The Policing Pledge is just one part of the Policing Green Paper, published last summer, which signalled a fundamental shift in police accountability and reporting. All 43 police forces have signed up to the Pledge which sets out a range of promises about what the public can expect from the police.

The adverts focus on two of the promises within the Pledge - that your Neighbourhood Policing Team spend 80 percent of their time visibly working in your neighbourhood and that you can make an appointment to see your local police at a time that suits you within 48 hours about non-emergency problems.

The adverts were launched as new polling published today shows that:

• over half of the public think they would have to wait more than 48 hours for an appointment with a police officer to discuss a non emergency matter;

• only three percent of people think that their local police spend more than 75 percent of their time on the beat in their area;

• 81 percent of people said they would find it useful to receive information which provided the contact details for the local police and other crime and antisocial behaviour services in their area; and

• 77 percent of those interested said that the most useful way to receive such information would be as a leaflet through the door.

The adverts will be coupled with a leaflet drop to more than 6 million households in 60 areas across the country to provide them with information about anti-social behaviour services, who to contact and how to complain if services aren’t providing what they should, as well as informing them about the Pledge.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said:
“The Policing Pledge sets out the standards the public can expect from their local force. We need to tell the public about these commitments – that neighbourhood police are pledging to spend 80 percent of their time on the beat, that people can make an appointment to meet their local police team at a time that’s convenient to the citizen. By letting people know about these standards of service that all police forces have signed up to, we hope that people will have greater confidence to come forward to report crime and give evidence against criminals in court; because they’ll know that the police are a visible presence locally, available to be on their side.

“Part of this campaign is also about making it easier for the public to know what their rights are if they are suffering from anti-social behaviour so they don’t end up being passed from pillar to post. It also tells them about what service they should receive if they are a victim and who to contact to ensure their voice is heard.”

The campaign also promotes a newly developed crime and justice area of the direct.gov website - www.direct.gov.uk/policingpledge - as a key way for people to access information about police, crime, justice and anti-social behaviour services, including the details of their local neighbourhood policing team, crime maps, how to nominate areas to be cleaned up by offenders undertaking Community Payback and services for victims and witnesses. For the first time this information will be in one place and accessed simply by entering a postcode.

Notes to Editors
1. The Policing Pledge is a set of promises to local residents that not only gives more information about local policing, but also ensures that communities across the country have a stronger voice in telling the police what they think is most important and what they are most worried about.

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Policing Pledge The police service in England and Wales will support law abiding citizens and pursue criminals relentlessly to keep you and your neighbourhoods safe from harm. We will:
1. Always treat you fairly, with dignity and respect, ensuring that you have fair access to our services at a time that is reasonable and suitable for you.

2. Provide you with information so you know who your dedicated Neighbourhood Policing team is, where they are based, how to contact them and how to work with them.

3. Ensure your Neighbourhood Police Team and other police patrols are visible and on your patch at times when they will be most effective and when you tell us you most need them. We will ensure your team are not taken away from neighbourhood business more than is absolutely necessary. They will spend at least 80% of their time visibly working in your neighbourhood, tackling your priorities. Staff turnover will be minimised.

4. Respond to every message directed to your Neighbourhood Policing Team within 24 hours and, where necessary, provide a detailed response as soon as we can.

5. Aim to answer 999 calls within 10 seconds, deploying to emergencies immediately giving an estimated time of arrival, getting to you safely, and as quickly as possible. In urban areas, we will aim to get to you within 15 minutes and in rural areas within 20 minutes.

6. Answer all non-emergency calls promptly. If attendance is needed, send a patrol giving you an estimated time of arrival, and:

• If you are vulnerable or upset aim to be with you within 60 minutes.
• If you are calling about an issue we have agreed with your community will be a neighbourhood priority and attendance is required, we will aim to be with you within 60 minutes.

• Alternatively, if appropriate, we will make an appointment to see you at a time that fits in with your life and within 48 hours.

• If agreed that attendance is not necessary we will give you advice, answer your questions and/or put you in touch with someone who can help.

7. Arrange regular public meetings to agree your priorities, at least once a month, giving you a chance to meet your local team with other members of your community. These will include opportunities such as surgeries, street briefings and mobile police station visits which will be arranged to meet local needs and requirements.

8. Provide monthly updates on progress, and on local crime and policing issues. This will include the provision of crime maps, information on specific crimes and what happened to those brought to justice, details of what action we and our partners are taking to make your neighbourhood safer and information on how your force is performing.

9. If you have been a victim of crime agree with you how often you would like to be kept informed of progress on your case for how long. You have the right to be kept informed at least every month if you wish and for as long as is reasonable.

10. Acknowledge any dissatisfaction about the service you have received within 24 hours of reporting it to us. To help us fully resolve the matter, discuss with you how it will be handled, give you an opportunity to talk in person to someone about your concerns and agree with you what will be done about them and how quickly.

We want to do our best for you but if we fail to meet our pledge we will always explain why it has not been possible on that occasion to deliver the high standards to which we aspire and you deserve.

You are entitled to:
• A clear set of commitments from the police about their service
• A local Pledge about how your neighbourhood will be policed
• Contact details for your neighbourhood policing team
• Monthly public meetings with your local police team to agree what matters most
• Access to information on local crimes including crime maps and feedback on what action has been taken in your area by visiting www.direct.gov.uk/policingpledge or searching for Policing Pledge online.

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2. Louise Casey's Review "Engaging Communities in the Fight against Crime” was published on 18 June 2008 and can be found at: www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/crime.aspx

3. The television adverts launch on Saturday 21 November and will then run nationally until 13th December. The radio adverts will launch on Monday 23rd November and will run predominantly regionally until 20th December. The online adverts launch on 23rd November and will run until 20th December. The press advertising launches on 23rd November and runs regionally until 20th December. Advertorials will run in women’s magazines throughout December.

Contacts:

Home Office Press Office
Phone: 020 7035 3535
NDS.HO@coi.gsi.gov.uk