Police quality audit shows improvement
Nine out of ten police authorities and forces in England and Wales are continuing to perform well on their recording of crime data according to a new report published today by the Audit Commission and Wales Audit Office. In 2006-07, 88 per cent were rated good or excellent, compared to 81 per cent during the previous year and 28 per cent in 2003-04.
Police Data Quality 2006-07 examines how well the police record information reported to them by victims and witnesses under the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS). Its findings show that the police are putting crime recording at the heart of their efforts to target their resources where they will have the greatest impact. However, despite the generally positive picture, 26 per cent of police bodies have not sustained previous levels of performance.
This year, for the first time, the report also includes an analysis of how well the police record anti-social behaviour incidents that are not classified as crimes. Anti-social behaviour incidents is one category within the National Standard for Incident Recording (NSIR) which the police service has introduced this year. Only 28 per cent of police authorities and forces are good or excellent in this anti-social behaviour category, possibly reflecting that this is the first year that this category of performance has been assessed.
The findings show that the police and their partners in local crime and disorder reduction partnerships (CDRPs) in England or community safety partnerships (CSPs) in Wales need to improve how they use and share data on crime and anti-social behaviour to help them address neighbourhood and community concerns.
Steve Bundred, Chief Executive of the Audit Commission, said:
"Data quality may sound bureaucratic, but it is about the police listening to the public, recording correctly the information they give and acting on it. Of course front line, visible policing is crucial, but ensuring that officers concentrate their efforts on the right areas is also important. Our report shows that the clarity of the information recorded by the police continues to improve.
