External Consultation 2009/10 - Summary of Initial Findings

Background

During the summer months of 2009, members of the Corporate Services Team visited nine locations throughout the Force area, to undertake consultation with members of the public. Locations were chosen within popular shopping areas throughout the force area.

Press releases were sent to local newspapers/radio stations to advertise the events and encourage people to come along. In most cases, Mobile Police Stations were utilised to provide a visible base on the day. In addition to Corporate Services, members of local Neighbourhood Policing Teams and Police Authority members attended.

The survey itself covered a range of questions, which sought to identify: what people think about policing services and crime levels in their area, how their views have changed from the previous year and what they felt policing priorities should be for 2010/11.

Summary of Top Level Data

Each question has been analysed by the number of respondents to the survey, please note that respondents have been selective as to the questions they reply to and therefore the percentages will not always aggregate to one hundred percent.

1,361 respondents residing in the Force area completed the Survey, this is an increase of 65% compared to the 825 residents who completed the survey last year.

How much would you say the crime rate in your area has changed over the last 12 months?

The majority (49%) stated that the crime rate had stayed the same; this is slightly higher than last year’s figure of 46%

31% of respondents felt that there was more crime and 18% stated that there was less crime in their area. These numbers are consistent with last year’s figures.

How do you think levels of crime and disorder in your area compare to the UK average?

The vast majority of respondents (72.5%) stated the crime rate was lower in their area compared to the UK average

Only 7% felt it was higher and a further 17% felt that it was the same. These figures are consistent with last year’s data.

How safe do you feel walking alone in your area after dark? (If you never go out alone, try to consider how you would feel)

68% of respondents stated that they felt safe, 28% stated that they felt unsafe and the rest were unsure. Comparing this to last year’s data whereby, 72% stated that they felt safe, 23% felt unsafe.

How much of a problem are the following things in your local area?

A list of issues were given to the respondents to choose from. People using or dealing drugs and people being drunk or rowdy in public places were stated as the issues that most people felt were a problem in their area. These issues were the two biggest stated problems in 2008/09 as well.

Which two areas would you like to see Dyfed-Powys Police prioritise?

Feedback for 2009/10 shows that when respondents were asked to state what they would like Dyfed-Powys Police prioritise in, Anti-social Behaviour and drugs were the most commonly stated concerns. This is exactly the same for 2008/09.

In the area where you live, what are the main things that worry or concern you?

Further work is required to analyse the responses to this qualitative question. The data will be available in the full report that will follow this summary.

Thinking about your response to the above question, how confident are you that these issues are being dealt with?

Interestingly, only 38% of respondents stated that they had confidence that the police were dealing with their biggest concern. 47% stated that they had no confidence. 15% did not reply to this question.

Do you know any of the police officers or police community support officers who work in your local area?

63% of all respondents in 2009/10 stated that they knew an officer either by name or by sight. This figure has increased from 54% in 2008/09.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the police in this area?

Below is a selection of the responses obtained for the above question:

The police and local council are dealing with the ASB and crime issues that matter in this area – 51% agreed with this statement, 28% neither agreed nor disagreed and 13% disagreed.

The police and local council seek people’s views about the ASB and crime issues that matter in this area – 48% agree with this statement, 29% neither agree nor disagree and 16% disagree.

‘Taking everything into account, how would you rate policing in your local area?’

In 2009/10, 62% of all respondents stated that the police in their area was doing an excellent or good job. This is slightly down from last year’s figure of 64%

In 2009/10, 27% of all respondents stated that the police in their area was doing a fair job, this is up from last year’s figure of 22%.

In 2009/10, 8.5% of all respondents stated that the police in their area was doing a poor or very poor job, this is down from 9.3% last year.