Sussex Police Report Card Assessments.

Sussex Police and Sussex Police Authority have welcomed Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary’s (HMIC) police report card assessments published today (Thursday) and are looking forward to regular scheduled updates on the Force’s performance.

Deputy Chief Constable Giles York said: "The assessments are based on various data stretching back to 2007 and we believe that as updates become available, they will show that Sussex is already improving."

Sussex Police has been rated ‘Fair’ in all three overall categories, putting the Force in the equal top ten slot of 42 police forces across England and Wales for the Confidence and Satisfaction category, equal 15th for Local Crime and Policing and equal 17th for Protection from Serious Harm.

In the sub-categories, ‘Excellent’ ratings were given for reducing crime, suppressing gun crime and comparative satisfaction of the BME community.

Commenting on the figures, DCC York said: "Several areas of strong performance have been recognised by HMIC, including our excellent rating for reducing crime. This reflects the wishes of the police authority to concentrate on crime prevention, particularly with regard to vehicle crime. Our focus in this area has seen very good results, but we acknowledge that the number of solved cases in this category is directly bringing about the ‘Poor’ rating for solving crime. However, we are shown to be improving.

"Sussex Police works closely with other emergency services, local councils and other partners to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on the county’s roads. We all work tirelessly in a bid to educate and enforce. This is showing results and road KSI (killed and seriously injured) figures in particular have fallen by more than 7% over the last four years (964 in 2009 against 1034 in 2006). However, the way that we are assessed in comparison with similar forces, means that we have not moved position in relation to these other forces and we will continue to seek improvement.

"I am pleased that HMIC has recognised, in particular, the joint work that we have carried out with partners to make Brighton and Hove a safer place at night, which has been singled out as an example of exceptional performance and innovation. Our work on burglaries has also brought positive results and we lead the way in the south-east on reducing this type of crime. These are just two examples of the quality policing service that we deliver to the people of Sussex and I trust that the introduction of the My Police website will enable people to track our successes and our improvements."

The chairman of Sussex Police Authority, Dr Laurie Bush, said: "Sussex Police Authority is very pleased with this report’s recognition for the areas in which Sussex Police excel. Being in the top ten in the country for confidence and satisfaction is of utmost importance and the Authority would like to praise the work done in this area.

"I also want to commend the work done to gain a rating of excellent for reducing crime, suppressing gun crime and in particular the comparative satisfaction of the BME community. This is an area that the Authority has long overseen and is reflected in the diverse nature of the make up of Sussex Police, its officers and its staff.

"We recognise the weak areas in this report but there is nothing new evidenced here. These areas are being addressed and are reflected in the Authority’s Local Policing Plan for 2010-11 and will continue to be scrutinised to ensure further improvement in these areas.

"The Authority is identified as delivering policing with a low/medium cost per household which means that policing in Sussex represents very good value for money particularly when Sussex is ranked as one of the lowest funded police forces in England and Wales. The Police Authority recently set a historically low precept rise of only 7 pence (2.7%) per week for the average Band D household. This means that for next year taxpayers will pay only £138.42 per household for the policing of Sussex, whilst still allowing us to invest in 31 extra neighbourhood police officers.

"I am very pleased to be able to say that this extra investment in neighbourhood policing follows detailed consultation with communities in Sussex and is possible as a result of extensive efficiency gains by the Authority and the Sussex Police."