Policing Pledge - good start, but Police communication with the public needs to improve

HM INSPECTORATE OF CONSTABULARY News Release issued by COI News Distribution Service on 9 June 2009

"Police forces in England and Wales are making progress towards meeting the ten standards of policing, but more communication with the public is needed in order to shape the police service in their interest", said Jane Stichbury, HM Inspector of Constabulary, publishing a report on the Policing Pledge today.

The Policing Pledge is a new set of promises from the police on the service they should provide and every force has committed to keeping those promises. HMIC published a review today that reports how far the Policing Pledge has become a reality since its introduction in December 2008.

Inspectors found that there were a number of improvements needed, including:
* more work on communicating the Pledge to the public;
* a better system to handle public dissatisfaction with police services in local areas;
* assessing the actual visibility time of policing teams in neighbourhoods;
* ensuring better contact with victims before an alleged suspect is charged (although higher levels of service were provided post-charge);
* developing better ways to spread good practice.

However, the review found a number of improvements had been made. Essex Police is making use of 'mystery shoppers' to test policing service and feed results into improved performance. Furthermore, in Cambridgeshire, the public can sign up to Ecops, an email update on crime and policing.

Jane Stichbury added, "We were encouraged that many police staff were extremely enthusiastic and committed to providing an excellent public service. However, there is no room for complacency. Forces need to 'step up a gear' and focus their efforts to ensure that this commitment to the public becomes a reality".

The review included:
* Reviewing police force websites
* Conducting 'reality checks' on how the Pledge is working in practice; and
* Visiting seven forces:
- Avon and Somerset Constabulary;
- Cumbria Constabulary;
- Essex Police;
- the Metropolitan Police Service;
- Northamptonshire Police;
- South Wales Police; and
- West Yorkshire Police.

Between now and October 2009 all 43 police forces in England and Wales will be inspected on how they are delivering the Pledge. ends

Notes to Editors

1. The report "Delivering the Policing Pledge - Early findings" is published on 9 June 2009 - see http://inspectorates.homeoffice.gov.uk/hmic/

2. HMIC has been in existence for more than 150 years as an independent body with a remit to inspect police in the public interest. It inspects all 43 police forces in England and Wales together with other major policing bodies such as the Serious Organised Crime Agency, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the British Transport Police.

3. Through the inspection of police organisations and functions, and through national thematic reviews, HMIC aims to promote efficiency and effectiveness of policing in the UK to ensure that agreed standards are achieved and maintained.

4. HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary is the principal adviser to the Home Secretary on policing matters and produces an annual 'state of the nation' report on police performance. HMIC is developing a public-facing website to keep communities and citizens informed on how well their local police are doing.

5. Further information on the role of HMIC can be found at: http://inspectorates.homeoffice.gov.uk/hmic/

6. The ten points of the Pledge are listed here http://direct.gov.uk/en/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_175466.pdf

For further information please call Carolyn Armstrong on 020 7035 3535.