NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
To:
Business Coordination Board
From:
Chief Constable
Date:
11 May 2017
Agenda Item: 5.0
PERFORMANCE UPDATE – 12 MONTHS TO MARCH 2017
1.
Purpose
1.1
The purpose of this paper is to provide an update to the Business Co- ordination Board on
the Constabulary’s performance against priorities identified in the Police and Crime
Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan for the 12 months to March 2017.
2.
Recommendation
2.1
The Board is invited to note the contents of the report.
3.
Background
3.1
This report will focus on the Plan outcomes, making reference to both measures and the
qualitative context and covers plan objectives 1, 3 and 4. Delivering policing within the
available budget (objective 2) is monitored through the Finance Subgroup. Maintaining the
resilience of protective services (objective 5) is monitored through Strategic Alliance
governance processes.
3.2
This report should be considered alongside the Police and Crime Commissioner Performance
Update March 2017 document which includes a wide range of performance data, beyond that
commented on below.
3.3
This is the last report on progress against the Plan set for 2013-16. A new plan was launched
this month and future reports will reflect the new priorities.
4.
Maintain Local Police Performance – Objective 1
4.1
Emergency Response. Demand from 999 emergency calls increased significantly year on year
whilst demand from 101 non-emergency calls remained comparable. Primary call handling
performance for both emergency and non-emergency calls remained strong, and comparable
to last year.
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11 May 2017
Agenda Item 5.0
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4.2
The total number of calls for service increased significantly year on year. While “immediate”,
“prompt” and “scheduled contact” demand all remained comparable to last year, there was a
significant increase in the number of calls which were graded “no response” (eg where the
matter was dealt with at point of first contact, or referred to another agency). The median
time to respond to incidents graded “immediate” was stable year on year. “Prompt” grade
performance, however, remains the challenge, with only 47.5% of incidents receiving a
response within 60 minutes and no sustained improvements noted in the median time to
attend (with variation by both area and crime type).
4.3
The Integrated Mental Health Team operating in the Force Control Room has had a successful
first year in which it reviewed over 9,500 calls for service, offering advice and signposting to
other agencies and is an example of efforts to help better manage demand on frontline officers
and deliver a better service to the public. Funding has been granted for the scheme to operate
for a further 12months.
4.4
Enhancing operational capacity through the use of volunteers remains a key aim. As at the
end of March, the Constabulary was supported by 114 Police Service Volunteers in a wide
range of roles. This is in addition to a network of Neighbourhood Watch and Speedwatch
members. The number of hours worked by the Special Constabulary has declined year on year,
reflecting a drop in establishment from 265 in April 2016 to 235 in March 2017. Nevertheless,
the Special Constabulary still contributed more than 56,000 hours of policing activity over the
year.
4.5
Public confidence. Although performance has fluctuated, the rolling 12 month indicator
remained comparable to last year. This masks area variation however, with the long term
indicator significantly higher than the year end position in Huntingdonshire, Peterborough and
South Cambridgeshire, but significantly lower in Fenland, (albeit there are indications that the
downward trend there has been halted). While an increased police presence continues to
feature as one of the top five key themes across all areas1, it is of note that 95.9% of
respondents surveyed over the past year said they felt safe in their local area.
4.6
Victim Satisfaction with overall service delivery remained comparable to last year. This was
true for all areas with the exception of East Cambridgeshire, where there was a significant year
on year deterioration in the long term indicator. While satisfaction with ease of contact, police
actions and treatment all improved significantly when compared to last year, follow up
continues to be a challenge with no year on year improvement noted.
4.7
Satisfaction with overall service delivery for victims of hate crime showed a significant year on
year deterioration, accompanied by a notable drop in the national rankings in the latest data
available to December 20162. This remains a focus for the Force and signs of improved levels
of victim engagement over the last 12 months have been noted, with the proportion of crimes
filed as a result of evidential difficulties when the victim was unsupportive of police action
down 7.6ppt year on year. However, this is not yet being reflected in survey feedback.
5.
Continue to Tackle Crime and Disorder – Objective 3
5.1
The recorded crime rate continues to increase following the national trend, rising by 19.4%
year on year (an increase of 9,418 offences). This was true for all policing areas, with the
greatest percentage increases in South Cambridgeshire (+29.4%), Peterborough (22.4%) and
Huntingdonshire (+17.4%). Although March 2017 saw the highest number of offences
recorded in a single month since July 2008 (suggesting crime levels have yet to plateau), we
1
Based on the last six months data.
Data for the 12 months ending December 2016 shows Cambridgeshire sitting 37 th out of 43 forces for overall
service delivery for victims of hate crime, down from 11th in the 12 months ending March 2016.
2
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have also seen the crime profile change over the last 12 months, with non-victim based crime
making up an increased proportion of total crime across all six areas3.
5.2
Public Order offences continue to drive this increase, particularly so over the past six months
(an increase of 80.6%, or 1576 offences year on year). The Force’s focus on recording crime
ethically and in line with National Crime Recording Standards remains a key factor in this.
5.3
“Violence without injury” has increased by 38.4% year on year (an increase of 2625 offences)
contributing significantly to the overall rise. The Office of National Statistics also commented,
in January 2017, that the national rise in this crime type is almost entirely the result of the
expansion of the category in 2015 that were not previously recorded by police4. Office for
National Statistics data release shows Cambridgeshire crime rates per thousand population
having increased to the quarter to Dec 2016 to 66.9 but still lower than the national (72.8)5.
5.4
Levels of hate crime rose by 74.8% year on year with March seeing the highest number of
offences recorded in any single month, surpassing the high of July 2016. (1052 offences were
recorded this year compared to 602 last).
5.5
Burglary Dwelling and Burglary Non Dwelling both saw overall crime numbers fall year on
year. Nevertheless, March saw the highest number of burglary dwelling offences recorded in
a discrete month since December 2015, and the highest number of burglary non dwelling
offences since November 2011. Over the longer (3 year) term, burglary dwelling rates in
particular have remained stable. (New Home Office classifications have been introduced in
April and will be reflected in future reports).
5.6
The rolling 12 month average for the all crime prosecution possible outcome rate is 20.0%.
Whilst the total number of detections achieved over the year has increased, the impact of this
in percentage terms has been diluted by the overall increase in recorded crime. The latest
force comparison data in March places us 22nd out of 43 forces.
5.7
The burglary dwelling prosecution possible outcome rate in the rolling 12 months to March
was 11.4%. (The rate for 2015/16 had been 10.4%). Burglary investigation has been the focus
of much effort through Operation Hunter at the commencement of which Cambridgeshire
Constabulary was placed 36th of 43 forces. The latest data for burglary dwelling detections (for
the 12 months ending March) places Cambridgeshire as 15th out of 43 Forces.
5.8
Burglary victim satisfaction has remained stable in the 12 months to March at a very positive
91.6% which is higher than most recent Most Similar Force rate (data available up to December
2016).
3
In the 12 months ending March 2017, non-Victim Based crime accounted for 11.4% of total crime, up from
9.7% in the 12 months ending March 2016.
4
“These are “Disclosure of private sexual photographs and films (including on the internet) with the intent to
cause distress or anxiety” and “Sending letters (including emails) with intent to cause distress or anxiety”6; the
latter is thought to account for 97% of these newly added offences. It is estimated that these 2 additional
notifiable offences made up a third of the overall 22% rise in violence against the person offences and just over
two-fifths of the 30% increase in the “violence without injury” sub-category. Taking out the 2 additional
notifiable offences, based on data from 40 forces (from the Home Office Data Hub), the increase in harassment
offences is estimated at around 13% (instead of 66%), the increase in “violence without injury” is estimated at
around 18% (instead of 30%) and the increase in total violent offences is estimated at around 15% (instead of
22%).” ONS data to 12 months to Sept 2016, reported Jan 2017.
5
ONS data to 12 months to Sept 2016
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11 May 2017
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5.9
The public’s perception of Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) in the 12 months to March remains
reassuringly low and comparable to last year (0.6% of people surveyed).
5.10
Out of court disposals as a proportion of all prosecution possible outcomes increased year on
year, evidence that we are considering the wider family of outcomes where a charge is either
not achievable or not appropriate. Increased use of community resolutions among offenders
under the age of 18 indicates the desire to divert children and young people away from the
criminal justice system6.
6.
Keeping People Safe – Objective 4
6.1
Domestic Abuse. 85.2% of all victims of Domestic Abuse who were surveyed over the past 12
months were at least fairly satisfied with the overall level of service they received. While follow
up remains the most challenging aspect of service delivery, it is of note that 79.8% of
respondents said they felt safer as a result of contacting the police, 82.6% felt that the police
cared about them, and 86.8% said they would feel confident in contacting the police again.
6.2
There was a significant increase year on year in the total number of domestic abuse calls for
service, as well as in the number which were graded immediate and those graded prompt.
Although response performance was comparable to last year, it remains challenging.
6.3
Levels of recorded crime rose by 33.0% year on year – an increase of 1,617 offences. This was
true for all areas, with Peterborough, Cambridge City, Huntingdonshire and South
Cambridgeshire all recording percentage increases of more than 30%.
6.4
The prosecution possible outcome rate continued to deteriorate and ended the year 2.6ppt
lower than last year. The long term indicators in Huntingdonshire and South Cambridgeshire
ended the year significantly lower than the year end position which is an important
performance change.
6.5
Serious Sexual Offences Priority Area. Offence levels were significantly higher this year
compared to last, with recorded crime rising by 13.2% year on year and the proportion of
historic reports remaining high. The long term prosecution possible outcome rate fell by 1.4ppt
but was comparable to last year.
6.6
Child Abuse (including CSE) Priority Area. The number of crimes with a Child Abuse marker
rose by 45.9% year on year. This was influential on the prosecution possible outcome rate
where the long term indicator has been on a downward trajectory since August 2016
Contact
Officers
Inspector Chris Savage, Temporary Head of Performance
Jo Lynch, Performance Analyst
Bibliography
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulle
tins/crimeinenglandandwales/yearendingsept2016
6
In the 12 months ending March 2017, 34.3% of offenders under the age of 18 were dealt with by way of
charge or summons, while 45.9% were dealt with by way of community resolution. This compares to 41.5% and
37.2% respectively last year.
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11 May 2017
Agenda Item 5.0
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