Menu
10/03/2005
Police criticised for not solving enough crimes
Police are failing to solve enough crimes, a report by MPs has claimed.
The report by the Home Affairs Select Committee into the progress of the government's three-year police reform programme said, "too few criminals are brought to justice" and stressed that this was a "matter for concern".
The Committee said that only 19% of reported crimes resulted in a conviction and the report "emphasised the importance" of the Home Office's pledge to increase this to 25% by 2008.
The report also tackled the issue of having more police officers on the beat. The Committee said that there was a "strong public desire" to have more officers on the street and it said that "good progress" had been made towards achieving this, highlighting the use of fixed-penalty tickets in helping to free up more police time. However, the report said the situation could be improved by introducing more effective information technology.
The Committee also criticised the government's definition of 'front-line policing', which included work spent on report preparation and case files, negatively affected statistics and gave an "exaggerated impression of success" of returning more officers to street duties.
The report also said that there was evidence to suggest that police training had been "squeezed" due to budget restraints and recommended that there should be no further cuts. It also said that many police forces still remained unrepresentative of their communities, despite recent increases in recruitment from minority ethnic groups.
However, the report praised the government's reforms on police pay, conditions and working practises and congratulated the Home Office in reducing high levels of ill-health retirement and sickness absence.
Commenting on the findings of the report, Chris Fox, President of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) said: “The major priority of the police service is to reduce crime, and to this end we take all crime seriously. We recognise that victims deserve to see offenders brought to justice for crimes committed. However, whilst many criminals caught by the police have committed more than one offence, a successful prosecution and conviction will assist in the overall prevention of crime, even where the other offences committed may not be brought to a satisfactory conclusion. We have every confidence that we are catching and convicting the right people."
Mr Fox also added that the risk of being a victim of crime is still at its lowest level for 23 years.
(KmcA)
The report by the Home Affairs Select Committee into the progress of the government's three-year police reform programme said, "too few criminals are brought to justice" and stressed that this was a "matter for concern".
The Committee said that only 19% of reported crimes resulted in a conviction and the report "emphasised the importance" of the Home Office's pledge to increase this to 25% by 2008.
The report also tackled the issue of having more police officers on the beat. The Committee said that there was a "strong public desire" to have more officers on the street and it said that "good progress" had been made towards achieving this, highlighting the use of fixed-penalty tickets in helping to free up more police time. However, the report said the situation could be improved by introducing more effective information technology.
The Committee also criticised the government's definition of 'front-line policing', which included work spent on report preparation and case files, negatively affected statistics and gave an "exaggerated impression of success" of returning more officers to street duties.
The report also said that there was evidence to suggest that police training had been "squeezed" due to budget restraints and recommended that there should be no further cuts. It also said that many police forces still remained unrepresentative of their communities, despite recent increases in recruitment from minority ethnic groups.
However, the report praised the government's reforms on police pay, conditions and working practises and congratulated the Home Office in reducing high levels of ill-health retirement and sickness absence.
Commenting on the findings of the report, Chris Fox, President of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) said: “The major priority of the police service is to reduce crime, and to this end we take all crime seriously. We recognise that victims deserve to see offenders brought to justice for crimes committed. However, whilst many criminals caught by the police have committed more than one offence, a successful prosecution and conviction will assist in the overall prevention of crime, even where the other offences committed may not be brought to a satisfactory conclusion. We have every confidence that we are catching and convicting the right people."
Mr Fox also added that the risk of being a victim of crime is still at its lowest level for 23 years.
(KmcA)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
14 April 2011
British Man Dies In Dubai Police Custody
A British man has died in police custody in Dubai. Lee Bradley Brown, 39, from east London, died on Tuesday after he was taken to a Dubai police station where he was allegedly assaulted and put into a cell. It has been reported that Mr Brown, was arrested over a row at the luxury hotel Burj Al Arab hotel.
British Man Dies In Dubai Police Custody
A British man has died in police custody in Dubai. Lee Bradley Brown, 39, from east London, died on Tuesday after he was taken to a Dubai police station where he was allegedly assaulted and put into a cell. It has been reported that Mr Brown, was arrested over a row at the luxury hotel Burj Al Arab hotel.
01 April 2004
New police complaints body launched today
A new independent police complaints organisation has been launched today which is designed to "increase police and public confidence" in the accountability and integrity of the police service, the Home Office has said.
New police complaints body launched today
A new independent police complaints organisation has been launched today which is designed to "increase police and public confidence" in the accountability and integrity of the police service, the Home Office has said.
05 September 2011
Ulster's Police Ombudsman Position 'Toxic'
A vendetta is being waged against the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) - with today's report slamming the independence of the Police Ombudsman's office - over its handling of historical cases only the latest chapter in a concerted attempt to blacken the name of the RUC.
Ulster's Police Ombudsman Position 'Toxic'
A vendetta is being waged against the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) - with today's report slamming the independence of the Police Ombudsman's office - over its handling of historical cases only the latest chapter in a concerted attempt to blacken the name of the RUC.
15 May 2008
Crimes Committed By Girls Up 25%, Report Reveals
New figures reveal that crimes committed by young women have risen significantly in the past three years. The Youth Justice Board's (YJB) Annual Workload Data report, released today, reveals that the number of offences committed by young females rose by 25% - an increase of 11,878.
Crimes Committed By Girls Up 25%, Report Reveals
New figures reveal that crimes committed by young women have risen significantly in the past three years. The Youth Justice Board's (YJB) Annual Workload Data report, released today, reveals that the number of offences committed by young females rose by 25% - an increase of 11,878.
17 May 2007
Nearly 200 crimes missed by DNA failings
Nearly 200 crimes went undetected due to failings over DNA samples, it has been revealed. The failure to archive DNA evidence resulted in 183 crimes going undetected, including one paedophile offence, three robberies, nine burglaries, 19 drugs offences and 62 thefts, the National DNA Database annual report revealed.
Nearly 200 crimes missed by DNA failings
Nearly 200 crimes went undetected due to failings over DNA samples, it has been revealed. The failure to archive DNA evidence resulted in 183 crimes going undetected, including one paedophile offence, three robberies, nine burglaries, 19 drugs offences and 62 thefts, the National DNA Database annual report revealed.
-
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.
