Page 11 - Federation magazine: October / November 2016
P. 11
Confidence in policing:
“We must address
differing perceptions”
Overall confidence in policing is Almost a third of respondents had they have been consulted about local crime
riding at 76 per cent according to contact with local police in the last year. and anti-social behaviour were significantly
the first report of its kind by Her The majority of those who had had contact more likely to feel that the police
Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary as a victim or witness agree they had been understood relevant local issues and were
(HMIC). treated fairly and with respect. dealing with them.
However, there are significant Announcing the results of the report, Seeing a uniformed police presence is
differences between views in: rural and HM Inspector Mike Cunningham said: “How important to people. More people were
urban areas; deprived and affluent areas; the police are viewed by members of the dissatisfied than satisfied with levels of
different age groups and ethnic and public is vitally important as it impacts uniformed policing in their areas.
minority groups. upon feelings of safety and how confident Awareness and attitudes toward serious
Tom Cuddeford, interim chairman of they are in reporting a crime. and organised crime
West Midlands Police Federation, said: “The “We commissioned this survey in order The vast majority of respondents were
results reveal just how important local to inform our inspection programme and aware but had little knowledge of these
policing and, in particular, uniformed have already begun to use these findings to issues. Less than 0.5 per cent of people had
officers are seen to be in shaping people’s inform the questions we ask of police been a victim or witness to cyber-crime and
attitude to the police. forces.” of these, only half reported it to the police.
“Along with other forces we need to
consider how we better engage people in Key findings: Over twice as many people did not feel
the work of our police officers, particularly Safety and security well informed about local policing than did
among those groups where confidence is 74 percent of all respondents are satisfied feel informed (64 per cent feel
lower. Those who feel better informed with their area and feel safe after dark. uninformed, 31 per cent feel informed).
about local policing are far more likely to l 33 per cent of 16-24-year-olds felt
feel confident.” 31
More than 25,000 people aged 16+, unsafe, compared to 21 per cent of
including 1,000 from the West Midlands people aged 65 and older; 64
Police region, completed the survey in July l 31 per cent of people from black or
and August 2015 which included questions minority backgrounds also felt unsafe.
on local policing, contact and serious and Local policing
organised crime. The extent to which someone interacted
On local policing, people were three with local police officers/PCSOs was a
times as likely to be satisfied with local powerful predictor of how they spoke
policing than dissatisfied (52 per cent v 17 about the police; the more frequent the
per cent), although policing still trails contact the more positive the views
behind most public services. expressed were.
The survey also revealed police visibility Engagement
is explicitly stated as being important to Over twice (64 per cent) did not feel well
people. informed about local policing than did feel
informed (31 per cent). Those who said that
www.westmidspolfed.com federation October/November 2016 11
