Police hit response times in 8/10 emergency calls

Thursday 15 January 2015

Police hit their emergency response times on 82% of calls in urban areas last year, according to new figures out this morning in a report that has also revealed a plan to improve rape investigations and reform the drug strategy.

The police force – who earlier this week revealed a fifth consecutive year of a fall in recorded crime levels, which are now half what they were a decade ago – managed to get to emergency calls in town in an average of 4 minutes 45 seconds, well under their six-minute target.

But they didn’t do quite so well on rural emergency calls, making the 10 minute target on 76% of calls, and taking an average of 8 minutes and 28 seconds.

The figures are revealed in the Police Plan for 2015, which has been published by Home Affairs Minister Kristina Moore after being drawn up by the new independent Jersey Police Authority in conjunction with the States of Jersey Police.

The report sets targets for the force in 2015 of putting together an 18-point plan designed to improve police performance on rape investigations, and a new drugs strategy that will focus on the shift in patterns from traditional drugs to “New Psychoactive Substances” – the drugs that used to be called legal highs.

In the report the police say that the imposition of a 2% cut in their 2015 budget to help meet the States cash deficit is going to mean a reduction in the size of their workforce.

The £24 million per year police force currently employs 223 officers and 119 civilians.

The report says: “Given that 87% of Jersey Police’s budget goes towards staff costs – and recognising the current budget reduction follows a series of cutbacks in previous years, the Police will need to reduce its overall workforce strength to make the books balance in 2015.

“Whilst some Police posts have been cut, the priority has been to look to achieve savings from back office roles. It seems increasingly likely that further savings will be also be required in future years and there is recognition that these are unlikely to be achieved without reviewing the Force’s current operating structure; this review is also planned to take place in 2015.”