MERSEYSIDE Police have been ranked seventh out of 42 forces in annual performance assessments.

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary ruled that it was a “high-cost” force, given its high crime catchment area, but provided value for money.

It won the top “excellent” rating for protecting the public from serious crime, “good” for tackling local crime and “fair” for providing confidence and satisfaction.

The Inspectorate recognised Merseyside’s ongoing battle against organised criminal gangs.

But it warned of areas of concern, including early signs of a decline in the rate of burglary convictions.

The Inspectorate’s Roger Baker said: “Merseyside Police has reduced crimes that matter locally to the public, such as violence and robbery.

“It brings nationally recognised expertise to top-level serious crime, such as drug-trafficking.

“It uses money well, but it is a high-cost force. It spends more per head of population than its peers, employing more police officers.”

He also pointed out that Merseyside has failed to meet national targets for reducing deaths and serious injuries on the roads. Local council tax payers contribute 15.65 %to policing costs – £140 per Band D household – higher than comparable forces.

A Merseyside Police spokesman said: “We have, as the assessment recognises, invested in putting more officers on the streets to ensure that the people of Merseyside receive the best possible service.”

The Cheshire force was rated “fair” for all three of the main categories.

Mr Baker said that its detection rate for such offences as burglary was better than average. But he said it needed to do more to resolve “community problems.”

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