Police boss: We are now solving fewer crimes

Giles York told police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne officers have reduced the amount of time they spend investigating from 31 days to 21 days to be able to cope with a rise in reports of crime.

Previously they were carried out to the “Nth degree” with officers “pursuing everything” just in case they were asked about the case, but now they are told to prioritise crimes against the most vulnerable people and catching prolific offenders, he told the performance and accountability meeting on Friday.

He said: “We can’t just absorb the rising number of police investigations. It’s about being able to finalise investigations earlier and deciding how far we want to investigate, whether by finding offenders or by saying we are not going to be able to investigate this one.”

This can include anything from public order offences to firearm offences.

A review of work practices said an “expected consequence” of prioritising vulnerable victims means officers are also arresting fewer people, the meeting heard.

But Mr York said there were “many other ways” of resolving crime. He said more reports was a factor in fewer crimes being solved.

At the same time, officers have been given more power to make their own decisions which previously had to be rubber stamped.

Mr York said this was about giving officers skills and confidence but they could seek senior guidance if necessary. He said every crime was still investigated and lines of enquiry “assessed”.

Mrs Bourne asked: “Why is it a plus the solve rates are decreasing? That sounds counter intuitive to me.”

Mr York said: “We need to look at this again to find out why the solved rates have decreased.”

He suggested it might be because some crimes are not being investigated as they were before. He insisted officers were still solving as many crimes as they ever did but there were fewer staff.

He said he would “lift the lid” to understand why it has happened and he would review this month.

It is something Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary is due to investigate in October.

Mrs Bourne said she wanted to revisit the topic.

Topics also discussed at the meeting included the changes to neighbourhood policing teams, crime reporting and the 101 non-emergency phone line. Mr York insisted the new local policing model was working and officers are more dedicated to their beats than before thanks to training, extra powers and smart phones.

Mr York said the public have feared they will lose their local point of contact but he can now guarantee them a team as a “compromise”

He said there were still the same number of response officers as before but now they will see a crime through and maintain contact with the victim throughout rather than it being handed over. The officers will be asked to move around the country more.

OFFICERS 'NOT USING NEW TECHNOLOGY'

POLICE officers are “not interested” in using expensive technology bought in a bid to save hours of their time.

Sussex Police has handed out some 2,000 mobile phones to free up officers but some have not yet even taken part in the training, Chief Constable Giles York said. 

He told police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne many have thrown themselves into using the devices, “love it” and are using them as much as possible but added: “There are a number who just aren’t interested.”

He said the number was “reassuringly low” with about a dozen response officers out of hundreds not yet using them and this was “not unusual”, adding: “If I’m giving expensive technology and they are choosing not to use them.

“That’s not acceptable. That is a waste of public money.”

COMPETENCE CALLED INTO QUESTION

THE competency of district commanders was called in to question after reports of anti-social behaviour rose by seven per cent. 

Police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne raised the concerns after it emerged the increase in the last six months equated to 1,600 more crimes.

Assistant Chief Constable Lawrence Taylor said officers were working with other public bodies, using “dispersal powers”, making more use of cameras and entering into “contracts” with parents to get their children to behave.

Mrs Bourne said the MP for Crawley, Henry Smith, had provided examples of eight complaints about problems in Maidenbower and said it was a “shame” it had got so far without being addressed.

She had already been contacted by councillors and members of the public in Upper Beeding, Bognor, Peacehaven, Seaford, Crowborough and Chichester. She asked: “Do you feel confident your district commanders have their finger on the pulse?”

Mr Taylor said: “Yes. I am very confident in district commanders. Whilst we won’t always get it perfectly, I have a lot of faith [in them]. I think they are all very capable individuals.”

He said 20 youth prevention officers were dedicated to working with schools and tackling problems with children. 

Mrs Bourne said she was also concerned to hear from senior elected councillors they do not understand the changes to local policing. 

Chief Constable Giles York said councillors had been invited to meetings to discuss the changes. He previously said the force had struggled to communicate the changes in the last year but they were continuing to do this. 

The force has seen an 11 per cent increase in crime across the county between September 1, 2016, and August 31 this year, equating to 11,000 more crimes. 

Mrs Bourne said she had been contacted by residents in almost every area of the county – Crawley, Hastings, Worthing, Horsham, Lewes, Eastbourne, Mid Sussex, Brighton and Hove, Chichester – and the figures matched what she was learning from the public. 

Mr York said: “Sussex Police really is very good at recording crime, much better than many other forces around the country. We are not trying to hide reports anywhere or fob people off. This isn’t a Sussex trend, it’s a trend right the way across the country.”

He said the county was still “incredibly safe” but said the reality is there were fewer officers and staff and it would be “unfair and ineffective” to give them the same workload, adding: “It would break them.” They are told to prioritise the most dangerous crimes.

'PUBLIC STILL WANT TO SEE OFFICERS ON THE STREETS'

PEOPLE still prefer to phone police and see officers on the street.
That was the message from Assistant Chief Constable Lawrence Taylor. His comments come in the wake of an interview in which Chief Constable Giles York said it would be more convenient for victims to be dealt with by email and the public should expect to wait seven minutes for their calls to be answered.

Answering questions from police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne, Mr Taylor said: “It is fair to say people still like to contact the service using the telephone. there is a definite preference for that and they like to see police.

The local policing model aims to put as many people on the ground.”

Mrs Bourne said: “I’m reassured you recognise that. They like to see police officers and 101 is first port of call.

"There is somewhat of a perception at the moment Sussex Police may have pulled away from that sort of policing, that you’ve just become responsive, that you are not in the communities any more.

"I know that you tell me of the value of being in communities but I think it’s important to say it publicly.”

Mr York said before changes were made the force “lost sight” of how resources were used but said officers were now “dedicated to working in their communities”.

Mrs Bourne said the public wanted to see time saved by officers using smart phones translated in to more on the street.