Police in bid to speed up response times
A NEW local policing model aimed at speeding up response times is being rolled out across Staffordshire today.
Staffordshire Police’s emergency response officers are now based at 10 stations across the county.
The response teams had previously worked out of bases at Hanley, Burton and Cannock, but they will now operate from the same 10 local areas as neighbourhood officers and police community support officers (PCSOS).
Chief Constable Chris Noble, who announced the shake-up back in February, says the new model will enable officers to respond to emergencies more quickly, develop “enhanced local knowledge” to help them solve problems, and have more time to investigate and “provide a high-quality, consistent and caring service for victims of crime”.
Mr Noble said: “I’m pleased we are now on day one of the new model. It’s been months of planning, analysis and consultation with colleagues and partners to build a model that will allow us to respond in the way the public want and need us to, also giving us more time to focus on the issues that matter most to local communities.
“The model has also received the backing of the Police and Crime Commissioner, who believes it will help deliver some of the commitments made in the county’s Police and Crime Plan. It is critical we are more closely embedded in, and visible to, local communities so we can work most effectively with the public and partners to solve issues and prevent crime and I am confident this approach to policing enables greater ability to deliver against these aims.”
The ten local policing teams, which will consolidate teams and increase the force’s three current response bases, are: Leek, Hanley, Newcastle, Longton, Stafford, Burton, Codsall, Cannock, Lichfield and Tamworth. The new model also includes bespoke “harm reduction hubs” operating in every local policing area.
These will look to tackle “high -demand, high-risk” crimes and anti-social behaviour through early intervention and partnership working. There has also been investment in the force’s specialist crime teams, which tackle the most serious and complex crimes, and a recruitment drive in the force contact and control centre.
It has previously been reported that Staffordshire Police has one of the worst average call answering times in the country.
Mr Noble added: “While we need to respond faster and more efficiently to emergencies, it’s important we look at and understand the changing nature of crime and the complex and sustained numbers of call we have to respond to on a daily basis. Our contact and control centre is key to informing our daily operations and significant work is being undertaken in order to achieve an improved service for the public at first point of contact.”
It is critical we are more closely embedded in, and visible to, local communities
Chris Noble