Performance and Measurement

Summary

Suffolk Constabulary polices an area of 1,470 square miles and a population of 692,000, which has grown by 3.5% since 2001. Suffolk is a rural county with large expanses of low-density population working in farming, light industry, brewing and tourism. One of Europe’s largest container ports is situated at Felixstowe and the county has a number of military bases, including two belonging to the US Air Force. The county town of Ipswich poses the greatest policing demands, many of which relate to the night-time economy. Policing is delivered from headquarters at Martlesham Heath and three area commands. A strategic options paper, currently being considered by the force and the police authority, examines the force structure to ensure that it meets present and future challenges. The advent of Neighbourhood Policing has created a district-based structure, coterminous with district council boundaries, with each district commanded by a chief inspector.

The 2007 HMIC Phase 1 inspection noted strong performance management arrangements and considerable development in the delivery of Neighbourhood Policing, although at the time of inspection this had not been fully rolled out. The force has identified 47 neighbourhoods to be policed by Safer Neighbourhood teams, with geographic boundaries agreed with partners. A nominated sergeant leads each team (although some sergeants have responsibility for more than one team), supported by constables, PCSOs, special constables, volunteers and partners. All teams will be in place by autumn 2007.

HMIC also examined the key area of Protecting Vulnerable People, for which the force was awarded an overall grade of Poor in 2006. While noticeable improvements have been made in the field of public protection (the management of sex and violent offenders), child abuse investigation remains a critical area of vulnerability. However, the force has acted swiftly to review its capability, and a series of recommendations to improve the present arrangements have already been agreed by the force management board. Domestic violence investigation has some elements of good practice – such as multi-disciplinary victim care centres – and is of an acceptable overall standard.

Four other areas were graded as either Poor or Fair/ Deteriorated in 2006 and were re-inspected in 2007. One of these related to the investigation of major crime, where the principal concern was the lack of a dedicated expert resource; the force has now agreed to create such a unit. An important contextual factor here is the force’s response to the murder of five women in and around Ipswich during November and December 2006. The judicial outcome of the case is as yet unknown, but the force coped well in the face of unprecedented demand, supported by ACPO, the National Centre for Policing Excellence and over 30 forces across the UK. However, further progress will be needed to meet the national standards for major crime investigation recently agreed by ACPO.

In two other areas rated last year as Poor – serious and organised criminality and specialist operational support – a number of improvements have been made that should help the force comply with national standards. In respect of training, the force is now providing an acceptable level of service.

The rates for both offences brought to justice and sanction detections have increased, while volume crime has shown a slight decrease. User satisfaction has also increased. Local priorities agreed by the police authority are to reduce the number of anti-social behaviour incidents; improve accessibility, visibility and engagement; and improve call-answering times. Key challenges for the future are to progress regional collaboration, both to enhance protective services capability and to improve cost-effectiveness.