NI policing plan unveiled
Thugs who prey on the disabled are to be targeted as part of a developing offensive on hate crime revealed today by Northern Ireland policing chiefs.
Street vandals plaguing neighbourhoods have also been targeted in an £802m (€1.2bn) strategy for running the force over the next 12 months.
As well as demanding Chief Constable Hugh Orde solves more murders, increases drug seizures and strengthens public confidence in his officers, new goals have been set over attacks fuelled by religious and sectarian prejudice.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland has been told to establish a baseline clearance rate for crimes against victims with disabilities.
A total of 38 targets have been included in the latest annual Policing Plan devised by the authority which holds the PSNI to account.
Sir Desmond Rea, chairman of the Policing Board, said changes to the blueprint, set out under eight key objectives, emerged from a critical review carried out with the service.
He said: “They will bring the Northern Ireland planning process closer to that used in England and Wales to enhance the extent, robustness and transparency of the process for assessing police performance.
“From a strategic perspective, this plan provides the board with a strong mechanism for holding the PSNI to account for the delivery of policing right across Northern Ireland.”
After consulting with local District Policing Partnerships, two new objectives were included – tackling the fear of crime in communities and dealing with anti-social behaviour.
Alongside calls for better results on burglaries, car crime, drink/drug-driving and public disorder, police chiefs have been challenged to achieve a 75% victim satisfaction rate.
In an attempt to maximise resources in the force, average sickness levels for officers must fall to 12.5 days, the plan recommended.
In their response to the demands, police commanders detailed how they intend to improve the service.
Key targets they have set themselves include:
:: completing 75% of investigations within 90 days of a detective being appointed;
:: installing 500 “black box” data recorders to influence driver behaviour in police vehicles by March 2006;
:: having automatic number plate recognition schemes (ANPR) in place by September 2005;
:: thermal image marking on at least 750 police vehicles to assist the force’s helicopter by December 2005;
:: achieving a 5% reduction in complaints by March 2006.
Mr Orde insisted the plan would build on major advancements made by the PSNI.
He said: “We have moved forward hugely and people here have witnessed the biggest change in policing anywhere in Europe.
“Over the last three or four years officers in the Police Service of Northern Ireland have pushed the edges of policing and are working more and more at a local level with local people.
“As a result, communities are beginning to recognise and appreciate the difference it makes to engage with police officers.
“Northern Ireland is a safe place to live. It is one of the lowest crime areas in the United Kingdom with crime down 20% in the last two years.
“Police don’t achieve those levels of success alone. It happens through partnership.”
