Monday 26 March 2007 - 240

POLICING IN HERTFORDSHIRE IN 2007-08

The key priorities and objectives for Hertfordshire Police in the year 2007/08 were unveiled today as Hertfordshire Police Authority launched its annual Policing Plan at the Fielder Centre, Hatfield.

Members of the Authority and senior Constabulary officers and staff were joined by 200 representatives of local authorities, partnership organisations and communities to hear details of the Plan and the challenges that lie ahead.

Speaking at the launch, Chair of Hertfordshire Police Authority, Ian Laidlaw-Dickson, said: “We have listened closely to the feedback from the public, our stakeholders and partnership organisations, and this has had a significant influence on the Plan’s priorities for the year ahead.

“In particular, we have included targets that focus on tackling anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and the other low level crimes that affect people’s everyday lives. At the same time, we remain committed to reducing, preventing and detecting crime, and especially those crimes that affect the more vulnerable people in our communities, such as domestic violence.

“One of the greatest measures of how good a service is performing is the level of satisfaction of its users. Everyone should expect and receive a high quality of service. Whilst its overall satisfaction levels are relatively high, the Constabulary needs to increase victim satisfaction levels with the follow-up services it provides and we have included challenging targets for the year ahead.“

Ian added: “Among the challenges for the year ahead are improving frontline services despite Government grant increases that have not kept place with inflation. However, we are determined to build on the Constabulary’s previous success and ensure that the best possible policing services are provided to the people of Hertfordshire.”

The key priorities in the Policing Plan 2007/08 are:

	Provide a citizen focused police service
	Reduce crime
	Investigate crime
	Promote public safety
	Provide assistance
	Manage resources

Chief Constable, Frank Whiteley, said “The new initiatives around Safer Neighbourhoods mean that we now have more police officers and PCSOs than ever before working at a local level. The officers and staff of Hertfordshire Constabulary will continue to work to the same high levels of commitment and professionalism whilst meeting the many challenges of the year ahead.”

Herts Beat 2007
Central Area

Herts Beat 2007
Western Area