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Suffolk Constabulary’s new policing model is continuing to strengthen the way the service engages with local communities, responds to emergencies and investigates crime.
The changes, introduced at the end of 2023, were made in response to the rising and changing demands to the service and ensure the Constabulary continues to provide the best possible policing service, with the planning including taking account of the views of the public and workforce.
An evaluation of the model covers the first six months of the model from December 2023 to May 2024.
The key result was that recorded public engagement interactions have increased from an average 200 a month across the county to an average of 1500 per month. Practical examples of these include holding a surgery or ‘street meet’ in a location where there have been recent reports of issues to speak to the public affected; setting up a bike marking day or visiting an area with agency partners to problem solve local issues.
Elsewhere, the diary car that allows victims of less urgent calls to book an appointment with an officer at a time convenient to them has attended over 2,500 CADs* over the six month period.
Since the model’s implementation, 88.2% of B2 CADs* – or non-emergency calls - have been attended within 24 hours, an increase from 82.8% in the comparison period of December 2022 to May 2023 .
Integral to the new model are the Community Policing Teams across the county with a total of 80 Community Policing Officers (CPOs) with the creation of 50 new Community Policing Areas (CPA). The officers are delivering neighbourhood policing using effective partnership working and a problem-solving approach to reduce crime. While our Response Investigation Teams, provide the initial response to all emergency incidents and the follow up investigation to crime incidents such as violence in public spaces, criminal damage, drug related offences and missing people.
The Community Policing Teams (CPTs) have seen the largest improvement in positive outcomes seeing an increase from 17.3% (when they were called Safer Neighbourhood Teams) to 22.5% when comparing the corresponding previous six-month period. Anti-social behaviour remains the largest area of investigative demand for CPT officers making up 19% of total investigations.
Assistant Chief Constable Eamonn Bridger said: “This operating model prioritises public engagement and gives our community what they need from our service. The increased engagement allows us to identify the crime and anti-social behaviour issues that are affecting the public an allows for targeted problem solving alongside our partners.
“The approach ensures that the work tasked to our officers is in line with the core mission of policing and that they are more available to listen and respond to the public needs around the issues that most disrupt our communities.
“It’s important to say this evaluation covers December to end of May, so while the early results are encouraging, we won’t rest on our laurels and we will continue to monitor its progress closely over the coming months, including the 12-month point, and act quickly to resolve any issues should they arise.
“Additionally, in terms of more qualitative feedback, the response from community leaders and residents has on the whole been very supportive, well received and positive which is really encouraging to hear. I know our community officers, PCSOs and voluntary teams have enjoyed the opportunity to be more engaged, visible, proactive and intrusive where we need to be.
“The figures themselves are only part of the story – what really matters to Suffolk people are the engagement opportunities the new model has created. You can see a variety of examples of these on our local social media feeds, illustrating just how strongly our officers are embedded in the communities they serve.
“The six-month assessment shows that our officers are where people need them to be, when they are needed most - with community engagement at the heart of what they do. We have highly committed and professional officers responding to emergencies in your communities and we remain focussed on providing a police service that develops closer relationships with you - our communities and provides an effective service when needed.
“A further assessment of the model will take place after 12 months to ensure that we meet the requirements of the public.”
Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore said: “I am absolutely delighted to see this new community policing model making such a positive impact.
“Over the summer I was out and about across the county meeting with local communities and the feedback that I have received personally has been very encouraging.
“Officers selected to be part of his new operating model are very enthusiastic about the additional interaction they are having with the public, and the public do seem to appreciate the difference.
“This is a very good start and I know progress will be monitored to ensure the model really is fit for purpose for all the communities we serve.
“I’d like to say a very big thank you to everyone involved. We work to a very tight budget and we need to get the very best value from everything we do, so I am pleased to see this refocussing of resources is paying dividends.”
*CAD – a call into the Contact and Control Room that is formally logged.
*B2 CAD - Non-emergency calls with a police resource deployed to attend as soon as possible within 24-hours.