Cheshire Police Authority performs well, according to a new report released today by the Audit Commission and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC).
On a scale from one to four, the joint inspection team assessed the Authority's performance as 'three' - performing well.
Inspectors found that Authority members understand the issues that most concern residents and ensure that policing plans reflect these concerns and the needs of vulnerable people who are most likely to become victims of crime.
The Authority's effective monitoring and challenge is improving the performance of Cheshire Constabulary. The Authority makes sure the Constabulary's top team has the capacity and resources it needs to deliver agreed objectives. However, it needs to do more to make sure that taxpayers get good value for money.
Cheshire Police Authority comprises 17 members (9 councillors and 8 independent members) and employs eight full-time staff. The Authority is responsible for securing an efficient and effective police force for Cheshire and holding the Chief Constable to account.
The Audit Commission's Val Edmonds, spokesperson for the joint inspection team, said:
'Cheshire Police Authority provides clear leadership for policing in the county. Members talk to local people, listen to their concerns and ensure local policing reflects what is important to them. Through good scrutiny and challenge it is helping improve the Constabulary's performance and giving local people more confidence in the police. Partnership working is good. Members work well with other public services, such as councils and health services, to help improve the safety of Cheshire residents. The Authority is strengthening its focus on driving better value for money from policing but it needs to do much more especially given the current economic climate.'
Strengths include:
- The leadership and influence of the Authority on Policing Plans and priorities is clear. It is effective at finding out what matters to local people and balancing these local needs with regional and national policing priorities
- Authority members are good at challenging Constabulary performance and holding the Chief Constable to account for delivery of policing priorities. The number of recorded crimes is falling and detection rates are increasing
- Authority members use neighbourhood visits to check out the impact of policing services on the ground and to increase their understanding of performance
- The Authority places a strong emphasis on good customer service. Local satisfaction with the police service is growing and public confidence in policing is increasing. Complaints against the Constabulary are at an all-time low
- The Authority is pressing the Constabulary to increase the diversity of its workforce with some success
Areas for improvement include:
- The Authority needs a better understanding of the full range of threats and risks to Cheshire communities to inform its long-term planning.
- Authority members are not involved enough with the Constabulary in setting priorities for and challenging performance in protective services such as counter-terrorism, serious organised and cross-border crime, civil contingencies and emergency planning
- The Authority needs to make sure that joint working and collaboration with public service partners is delivering good value for money.
- Although levels of satisfaction are improving for both white and black and minority ethnic service users, the gap between the two is widening. The Authority needs to reach wider minority groups to better understand their concerns and provide opportunities to promote careers in the police service
Following today's report Cheshire Police Authority will plan what it needs to do to improve its performance in the areas indicated.
Copies of the report are available from Cheshire Police Authority or from the Audit Commission website and the HMIC website (external link).
Notes to editors
- Cheshire Police Authority is one of 43 police authorities in England and Wales. It is responsible for securing an efficient and effective police force for Cheshire and holding the Chief Constable to account.
- Police authority inspection provides a simple report in a straightforward way about how well each police authority is performing. It encourages police authorities to focus on continuous improvement and provides a robust independent challenge to stimulate positive change. Ultimately it is about working to improve the quality of services police authorities provide to local people.
- The Audit Commission is an independent watchdog, driving economy, efficiency and effectiveness in local public services to deliver better outcomes for everyone.
- Our work across local government, health, housing, community safety and fire and rescue services means that we have a unique perspective. We promote value for money for taxpayers, auditing the £200 billion spent by 11,000 local public bodies.
- As a force for improvement, we work in partnership to assess local public services and make practical recommendations for promoting a better quality of life for local people.
- HMIC is an independent inspectorate, inspecting policing in the public interest and rigorously examines the effectiveness of police forces and authorities to tackle crime and terrorism, improve criminal justice and raise confidence.
- Further information about HMIC (external link)
For more information, or for an embargoed copy of the full report, contact David Rose at the Audit Commission on 0844 798 6654 or d-rose@audit-commission.gov.uk