Whitehall gives thumbs-up for Merseyside Police

Nov 29 2008 by Liza Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

MERSEYSIDE Police has performed well in an annual government appraisal.

The 2008 Home Office performance assessment for the force shows the region’s violent crime rate has dropped from 19.4 incidents per 1,000 people last year, to 15.5 this year.

Improvements were also seen in the percentage of criminals brought to justice, and the gun crime rate, which has fallen from 1.38 last year to 0.92.

However, the domestic violence arrest rate has fallen from 24.7% to 21.8% and the force says that it is now trying to improve the rate. The report reads: “The force has achieved performance of 79.6% against a force target of 73% for satisfaction of victims of racist incidents.

“Improvements have occurred largely due to the work of the Hate Crime Investigation Units set up in March 2007. A 21% reduction in the violent crime rate per 1,000 population was achieved, following a similar reduction the previous year.

“Initiatives include regular Big Wing Operations, co-ordinating resources from across the force to tackle particular crimes.

“The life-threatening and gun crime rate was reduced by 33%.

“One of the force’s key priorities is to arrest and successfully prosecute offenders involved in the illegal supply, criminal use and possession of fire-arms.”