9:02am Thursday 11th March 2010
By Andy Tate, Parliamentary Correspondent
Police chiefs in Sussex have come under fire for their “poor” record on solving crime.
A report card published today by independent inspectors says the force’s overall performance is “variable” and warns “remedial action” may be needed in some areas.
The report, by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), accuses local police of failing to sufficiently reduce deaths and injuries on the county’s roads and failing to address persistent complaints about antisocial behaviour.
However, HMIC also found Sussex Police is “excellent” at preventing offences from occurring in the first place and reducing gun crime.
Overall, Sussex is rated “fair” when it comes to local policing, protecting residents from serious crime and boosting public satisfaction.
Zoë Billingham, who led the HMIC’s inspection said: “The force is performing poorly in solving vehicle crime.
“The number of people killed or seriously injured on roads in Sussex is higher than in similar places. The force also needs to improve its ability to identify quickly members of the public who repeatedly call the police about antisocial behaviour, so they can offer them the best possible service.”
Sussex Police said the report was based on data stretching back to 2007 and said it expected future reports would show that the force was “already improving”.
Deputy Chief Constable Giles York said: “Several areas of strong performance have been recognised by HMIC, including our excellent rating for reducing crime.”
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