Dorset Police's report card: must try harder (From Bournemouth Echo)

Dorset Police's report card: must try harder

9:30am Thursday 11th March 2010 in

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Dorset Police could do better according to a school-style report card published today.

The force is getting worse at solving crimes of violence with injury and vehicle crime.

And it has received a rating of fair, third out of four categories, from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC).

Today sees the publication of report cards for all 43 forces in England and Wales for the first time.

Although Dorset has the lowest rate of knife crime and third lowest rate of gun crime per 1,000 residents, it is 30th for serious sexual offences, 24th for violent assault and 13th for vehicle crime.

Forces were rated as excellent, good, fair or poor in three categories, Local Crime and Policing, Protection from Serious Harm and Confidence and Satisfaction. Dorset was ranked fair in all three.

Inspector Dru Sharpling said the force performs well in some key areas, such as burglary and robbery, but less well in others.

“There are some areas for improvement – violence with injuries is running at a rate above the peer average. Results for solving violence with injuries and vehicle crimes are deteriorating.”

He said Dorset is one of the safest areas in which to live, with crime rates generally below average and added: “The people of Dorset generally feel safe in their neighbourhoods – force planning for the water sports events of the 2012 Olympics is going well.”

Latest figures published by Dorset Police reveal there were an average of 725 crimes of violence and 348 vehicle crimes in the county per month between November and January.

Householders in Dorset contribute £172.40 per property to the police, based on an average Band D property – the average for England and Wales is £158.

Hampshire Police received two grades of fair and one of good for Protection from Serious Harm. The best performing forces in the country were Lancashire and Merseyside and the worst was Nottinghamshire.