More confidence in the police

People in Greater Manchester now have more confidence in their local police according to the latest figures.

Confidence figures are assessed nationally through the British Crime Survey and locally through neighbourhood surveys conducted by Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs). The latest statistics in both show improvements in confidence levels.

And the results of neighbourhood surveys are now available on the GMP and the national crime mapping website. It is part of the continued commitment to provide local people with information about the effectiveness of their local police.

In September 2009 the latest British Crime Survey data showed the Force at 48.6 per cent confidence and on course to reach the 2011 target of 53.8 per cent. While the local neighbourhood surveys show an increase in confidence to 75 per cent agreeing that the police are dealing with anti-social behaviour and crime issues that matter in their area.

Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan, responsible for neighbourhood policing, said: "It is pleasing to see the improvement but we know there is still some way to go. That is why we are putting more officers into neighbourhoods, are improving our systems and will be focused on tackling the issues that matter to local people.

"We face some challenges ahead but the ambitious change programme that is underway will improve the service we provide and help us to achieve the results needed.

"We aim to provide up-to-date information about what the police are doing and data that will give people a way to assess our effectiveness."

The single confidence target was introduced in March 2009 across the country and the aim is to focus the assessment of police performance around the service that is provided to the public.

GMP continues to develop links to people across the area by working with them, and providing them with a range of ways to say what matters to them, including through online forms, public meetings or by speaking to local officers.

ACC Shewan explains: "If we are going to succeed in driving down crime and making neighbourhoods safer then we can only do it if we are working together, police, agencies and local people."