The Audit Commission reviews the quality of recording crime by police authorities and forces in England and Wales for 2005. The main points are:
- A significant improvement in crime recording performance has been made in the past three years.
- Most authorities and forces now have a right first-time approach to crime reporting.
- Further improvements can be made.
Reviewing the quality of recording crime has shown that that some forces are undertaking high levels of checking to achieve their improved rating which does not represent a good use of public resources and is not sustainable in the longer term. Also, a small number of forces have failed to improve their performance or sustain previous levels of performance. Only one force has achieved an excellent rating for its management arrangements.
The Policing Performance Assessment Framework (PPAF) links force performance on data quality to overall assessments of achievement and encourages a more consistent approach to crime recording.
Most authorities and forces have acted on the Commission's previous recommendations and ensured that there is a right first-time approach to crime recording,
The improvement over the past three years is not just about compliance with a technical standard. It shows that a better, more victim-focused service is being provided to local people across England and Wales. The challenge now is to improve further as policing enters a period of substantial change with the introduction of strategic authorities and forces.