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14/09/2004
Customer service 'contract' for police unveiled
A new 'copper's contract' setting out the level of service people can expect when contacting the police for the first time has been launched today.
The contract's minimum standards, which will be in place in every police force over the next two years, are aimed to ensure that the public are able to contact police "speedily and are dealt with effectively".
Last year, 44% of the public had some form of contact with the police.
Speaking at the Superintendents' Association annual conference in Warwick, Home Secretary David Blunkett said that improving customer service to the public would be the "driving theme of the forthcoming police reform policy paper".
A national non-emergency number will be set up to complement the 999 are part of the plans.
Mr Blunkett said: "Over the next two years, the experience of a member of the public contacting the police must improve dramatically. Under new standards agreed with the police, every force in England and Wales will ensure everyone contacting them gets a good level of service. This is a vital part of my vision of a police service focused on serving the public."
The Home Secretary also pledged to further slash unwanted red-tape and police paperwork, enabling officers to spend more time patrolling the streets.
(gmcg/mb)
The contract's minimum standards, which will be in place in every police force over the next two years, are aimed to ensure that the public are able to contact police "speedily and are dealt with effectively".
Last year, 44% of the public had some form of contact with the police.
Speaking at the Superintendents' Association annual conference in Warwick, Home Secretary David Blunkett said that improving customer service to the public would be the "driving theme of the forthcoming police reform policy paper".
A national non-emergency number will be set up to complement the 999 are part of the plans.
Mr Blunkett said: "Over the next two years, the experience of a member of the public contacting the police must improve dramatically. Under new standards agreed with the police, every force in England and Wales will ensure everyone contacting them gets a good level of service. This is a vital part of my vision of a police service focused on serving the public."
The Home Secretary also pledged to further slash unwanted red-tape and police paperwork, enabling officers to spend more time patrolling the streets.
(gmcg/mb)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A very mild, but mostly cloudy day, although with some bright or sunny spells. It will be mostly dry in the morning, but a little patchy light rain or drizzle at times in the afternoon. Maximum temperature 14 °C.Tonight:A band of heavier rain will move east during the evening before clearing eastwards after midnight. then mostly dry through the early hours, but a little rain towards dawn. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
