HMIC Crime and Policing Comparator Contextual Information
Force Performance Highlights for April 2010 to March 2011
- 2nd best in its Most Similar Forces (MSF) group for crimes per
head of population
- 9th top performing force nationally
- 1351 fewer crimes compared to 2009/10 representing a 1.3%
reduction in total crime
- lowest recorded figure in the last eleven years
- fewer offences of dwelling burglary, serious violence, assault
with less serious injury and racially-aggravated crime.
- 6816 fewer incidents of anti-social behaviour recorded, a
reduction of 8.7%.
- An overall ‘solved rate’ of 33.12%.
We extended our range of methods for dealing with offenders to
allow victim based resolutions. Neighbourhood Resolutions were introduced in May
2010 for low-level offences and anti-social behaviour. They are
used for first-time offender when both victim and police
consider it more appropriate for the offender to resolve the
incident to the satisfaction of the victim through an apology,
financial recompense, or similar.
Other achievements:
- The percentage of victims satisfied with being kept informed of
the progress of the police investigation was 76.8%, a rise of 3.6%
points, the best ever recorded.
- The percentage of victims satisfied with the overall service
provided by the police was 85.8%, a rise of 1.5% points compared to
2009/10 and again the best ever recorded.
- The number of suppliers of class A drugs who were charged in
2010/11 increased by 136.4%.
- There were 208 suppliers charged in 2010/11 compared to 88 in
2009/10.
- 27 organised crime groups were either disrupted or dismantled
in 2010/11 compared to 17 in 2009/10 a 58.8% increase exceeding our
target for the year.
- Under the Proceeds of Crime Act the force achieved a 219.7%
increase in seizures: £3,826,939 2010/11 compared to 2009/10,
exceeding our annual target.
- The number of complaints for incivility and neglect of duty
fell by 14.3% in 2010/11.
- The force exceeded its objective to deliver budget savings of
£8,600,000.
The data in the HMIC’s Crime and Policing Comparator has been
made available so that members of the public can better understand
policing and some of the complexities around it.
It is intended to provide enough information so that members of the
public feel informed enough to ask questions about local policing.
Clearly there is the freedom to make a huge range of comparisons,
even though it is considered advisable to compare ‘similar’ forces
rather than, for example, a very urban force with a very rural one.
Hence the data provided in the Crime and Policing Comparator might
be seen as just the starting place for further questions to be put
to the force.
It is worth
noting that crime does not represent the totality of police
responsibilities and commitments. Quality of life and safety
responsibilities, including responding to anti-social behaviour,
road traffic incidents, missing persons etc. create considerable
demand for police services.
In addition to those things that are reported police forces have a
number of standing commitments to protect the public, for example,
policing of public spaces, policing of public events (sporting,
social, political) and preservation of important infrastructure
(transport, energy, historic monuments).
Policing isn’t as simple as dealing with the demands that occur
most frequently. Some low frequency events have the potential to be
the most harmful, for example, murder.
In order to discharge these responsibilities and balance these
demands with the disposition of the resources we formulated a
number of priorities (set out below under ‘Local Priorities for
Essex’) based upon the consideration of risk, threat and harm. In
doing this we considered the vulnerability of people and places,
public concerns, and political demands against the availability of
resources.
Background information about Essex
Geography
The Essex Police District covers an area of 1,405 square
miles.
For more information on the geography of Essex, visit the About Us section of our website.
Demography
The county of Essex has an estimated population of 1.72 million,
making it the fifth most populous county in England. The most
recent estimates of population suggest black and minority ethnic
(BME) groups make up 10% of Essex residents, lower than the
proportion for England as a whole (16%). The highest proportions of
BME groups are within Epping Forest, Harlow and Brentwood
districts. However, Tendring, Rochford and Castle Point have seen
the largest proportional increases since 2001.
Two thirds of migrants come from Poland. There are also higher
populations of Czech workers in Chelmsford and Rochford; Slovakian
workers in Chelmsford, Harlow and Basildon; Lithuanian workers in
Castle Point and Tendring; and Latvian workers in Tendring.
The proportion of Essex residents with non-British nationality
has decreased from a peak in 2007. It is not expected that new
communities of international migrants are likely to appear in Essex
in the short term.
Local Priorities for Essex
The Essex Police Strategy 2011-14 outlines four objectives,
taking into consideration Government objectives.
The Local Policing Plan sets out the priorities for the year in
line with this three-year strategy.
To read more about local priorities for Essex, take a look at our
policing plan page.