Force fails to identify repeat victims
DEVON and Cornwall Police have made some progress in tackling antisocial behaviour, but are failing to consistently identify repeat victims, official inspectors have warned.
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary carried out a review in spring 2010 to establish how the police can best tackle the low-level offences which undermine community confidence.
A follow-up inspection by HMIC, published last week, found that progress on the issue had been made by Devon and Cornwall Police which receives tens of thousands of reports of antisocial behaviour every year.
But HMIC said the force did not always identify repeat or vulnerable antisocial behaviour victims as soon as they contacted the force and therefore did not always receive the support they needed.
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Dru Sharpling, HM Inspector of Constabulary for the western region, said: "Anti-social behaviour is a blight that can wreck lives and communities.
"Our review shows that Devon and Cornwall Police has made some progress in how it tackles the problem, and that victim satisfaction is in line with the national figures for England and Wales.
"The force should be commended for this – especially as it comes against the backdrop of significant budget cuts across the service.
"However, there is no room for complacency. In particular, Devon and Cornwall Police should continue to work on ensuring repeat and vulnerable callers are identified at the first point of contact. This progress is therefore only the first step in delivering a much better service to victims."
HMIC said there had been a "committed focus" on antisocial behaviour with the introduction of an assessment, using data from a range of other agencies as well as its own, which gives a clearer view of the issues affecting the two counties.
Inspectors said neighbourhood policing teams had very good knowledge of their local antisocial behaviour issues, despite the challenges presented by current IT systems.
A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said it was continuing to work on the recommendations made by HMIC.
He said: "The force has given enhanced training to communications and call handling staff to better enable them in identifying those who are vulnerable, and the introduction of a new command and control system is another opportunity to improve our processes at the first point of contact.
"Antisocial behaviour remains a priority for the force, due to the damaging effect it can have on our communities and an action plan and working group are in place to ensure we continue to improve."
The force fell foul of HMIC earlier this year when a review "indicated some cause for concern – specifically the under-recording of crime". Inspectors said "considerable numbers of crimes and antisocial behaviour incidents were not being correctly recorded". Some of these the force said had now been addressed.
Comments
by MrMeMeMe
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 7:10PM
“Inspector Laptop won't be paying the crims a visit , sadly ... Constable Tickbox will likely be too busy with her biro refill ...”
by wdt
Tuesday, June 26 2012, 5:53PM
“realityzone ,
sadly it became to much and i did indeed take the law into my own hands , im currently on bail pending further enquiries, pity they didnt make further enqiries on my plee's ( 12 of them in last 9 months ) ,of which i had evidence,,, like the words in the song..
it dont make you weak to turn the other cheek ,,,, but sometimes you have to fight to be a man.
lets just say if im charged it will be worth every penny”
by realityzone
Tuesday, June 26 2012, 5:27PM
“wtd says " they just don't care" and that is a story heard over and over again. But, try to take the law into your own hand by confronting them and suddenly, hay ho! the police care very much, in fact they will turn up mob handed and arrest you. The increasing contempt for the police and for criminal justice in this country is now a real problem.”
by realityzone
Tuesday, June 26 2012, 12:39PM
“If Devon and Cornwall Police are responsible for this article by way of a press release I hope they now follow it up by reading the responses and the voting here and start to finally get to grips with this problem which, as someone here says, is ruining people's lives.”
by homerjay
Monday, June 25 2012, 11:24PM
“This is the result of Nu Lavs policy not to criminalise the young http://tinyurl.com/y9r7cfp
The police massaged the stats to tell us we were never as safe as we are now, so why do they now need all those tasers and act like a paramilitary force?
I've witnessed it first hand, young criminals with an A4 full of previous virtually let off. It's the vulnerable that usually suffer.
We need a 'Fiona Pilkington's law' .
And poverty is NOT the reason for acting the moron, it's the change in behaviour and lack of respect for anything but their own rights.
Human Rights and Civil Liberties are paramount, for those that deserve them.”
by wdt
Monday, June 25 2012, 7:10PM
“so , so , so true , ive been a vitim for nearly 12 months , the previous tenant was a victim before me , they just dont care ,i showed them proff of cctv , they jsut dont care”
by youngishmiss
Monday, June 25 2012, 4:33PM
“It would be great if the PCSO in Chelston took some kind of notice of what goes on around here, its very easy to turn a blind eye to what he sees as " trivial matters" when persistent "low level anti social behaviour" ruins the lives of many living in this community. Lazy springs to mind!”
by kimmyp
Monday, June 25 2012, 3:45PM
“There is a substantial list of names in our area known to our local police, many in the 14 to 18 years bracket, four of which were responsible for waking us up at 5.30am Saturday, drunk and fighting in the street. I totally agree with realityzone and josdave but on top of that I would add that it has become far too easy for parents to opt out of raising their kids, when it gets difficult they can just wash their hands of them. They become the problem of the police, scocial services, teachers and the council at a huge cost to the taxpayers. All the parent has to say is I can't cope with them and they can't live here. It needs to be made clear to parents that they are responsible and the best way to do that is to hit them with some of the financial burden and take up their time. When the police see these kids wandering around during the night they should have the power to hold them, contact the parents, make them collect them and if they don't they should be charged with neglect.”
by josdave
Monday, June 25 2012, 2:31PM
“You said it there is no deterrent to these misfits and the damage, physical and mental, they inflict on the public. Thanks to the PC brigade they know full well that nobody can touch them withour being charged with assault and even if the police catch them the courts will just dish out the usual slap on the wrist and set them free. This is a very good case for bringing back the birch as not many came back for a second helping of that and the victims felt that some measure of justice had been meted out. Now the rights of the offenders seem to take priority over those of the victims so it's about time the courts took it seriously.”
by realityzone
Monday, June 25 2012, 9:27AM
“"Anti social behavior" is a relatively new phrase, psycho speak for what is basically small scale crime, the crime of "Causing alarm harassment or distress." The reason that it is so prevalent and, as this article says, leads to tens of thousands of reports of it, is that for those who perpetrate it there is no fear of the consequences. So the same offenders, often small in number, are permanently repeating the offense. Modern policing fails to get on top of the problem because it is not backed up by the courts and the CPS prosecuting the offenders and offering a fear of the consequences. Time and again well intentioned and so called robust responses fail us. Remember when ASBOS were introduced? " break the ASBO and you could go inside" it never happens.”