Police Performance Rises: Spending Drops 

Police performance in Cheshire is continuing to improve, despite extensive savings to meet the Coalition Government budget cuts.

Members of Cheshire Police Authority were told the number of recorded crimes between April and September this year is down more than ten per cent on last year’s figures; from 33,777 to 30,305.

This includes a reduction of nearly seventeen per cent in crimes of violence resulting in injury and a fourteen per cent drop in the number of serious acquisitive crimes, including robbery, domestic burglary and vehicle crime.

The average time for police attendance at serious incidents has also improved, from 10.25 minutes to 10.02 minutes.

The percentage of people expressing “confidence in the police in this area” is up from 64.5 per cent to 71.5 per cent.

The Coalition Government ordered the Police Authority to save £11.1million on the budget for the current financial year and savings currently forecast at over £32million over a four year period.

Margaret Ollerenshaw, chairman of Cheshire Police Authority said,

“Planning for the reduction in spending began last year and the Constabulary is on course to achieve the savings required for 2011/12.

“Despite the resourcing reductions, the improvements in performance continue. This is due to improvements in the way we work and a focus on what matters to the public of Cheshire.”