Setting a Budget for Improvement

Our Crime Commissioner's Blog is now available to view here.

The root and branch review of the Constabulary that I instigated after my election, has allowed me to buck the trend this year as significant non-pay savings have been found. Work has been undertaken to make savings by changing the way contracts are negotiated, how frontline staff are supported by back office functions and in the way that the Constabulary is structured.

My aim is to achieve a visible, agile and well equipped service to meet the increased challenges of policing Cheshire such as the increased threats of child sexual exploitation and cybercrime.

The highlights of the planned improvements are:

• Stronger, more visible local beat patrols.

• More resources into local response and crime investigation, upskilling more police officers in investigative techniques.

• A stronger focus and greater resilience on key issues of concern, including child sexual exploitation, rape and domestic abuse and respond to the emerging threats of modern slavery and human trafficking.

• 53 additional police officers recruited by March 2016, and 131 extra officers aligned to neighbourhoods by the same date. javascript:doXML('LF',22,6,30659,0,0);
• Maintaining PCSOs to ensure that visibility and public engagement is maximised.

• Support for victims based on 'We're Here' principles – we, the police, come to you, at a time and location to suit.

• New technology to support mobile working and a programme of flexible software and systems to reduce the need for officers to spend time in stations is a key theme in this strategy. A wide range of methods for the public to access the police (online, local contact points, partnership working, face to face) will be maintained and further developed, to ensure accessibility.

• Importantly, capacity and flexibility will be maintained to respond to national threats of terrorism and cyber-crime. The crime recording function will be enhanced to ensure a high level of data quality.

The budget I have set today will allow for additional investment in policing thanks to the support I have received from the public to increase the council tax for policing.

John Dwyer

Ed: 'The main message suggests improvements in the service.'