The government will be establishing a new, dedicated unit that will work to improve performance in policing and make streets safer around the country.
To be announced this week, the unit will use national data to monitor police performance and direct where improvements should be made. This is the first time in more than a decade that police performance will be monitored in this way, and it will place a particular focus on high-priority areas such as violence against women and girls, knife crime, and neighbourhood policing.
Using intelligent data, the time that officers spend on the frontline will be monitored and response times will be standardised and measured. As part of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, the move will work towards making sure that officers are spending more time being visible and accessible – minimising the time they spend performing administrative tasks.
A new focus will also be placed on police standards and misconduct, with data relating to vetting and disciplinary procedures being collected, monitored and acted upon. This will aim to root out officers that are not fit to serve, furthering public trust in their local officers.
In a speech at the National Police Chiefs’ Council annual conference, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, is set to say:
“This is a critical juncture for the future of policing. And if as a country we are to remain equipped to fight the fast-changing challenges of today and tomorrow, then we know policing must evolve.
“We have a huge opportunity ahead of us to reset the relationship between government and the police, to regain the trust and support of the people we all serve and to reinvigorate the best of British policing.
“Strong and consistent performance is critical to commanding public confidence. I truly believe that working together we can mobilise behind this mission – and deliver a fairer, safer country for all.”
Once the unit has helped to build up more of a picture of how policing is working within communities, the Home Secretary will be able to take a more hands-on approach to improving policing. This will see her working with partners to ensure that the right support and intervention are being delivered.
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