A statement on how Bedfordshire Police Force is performing in relation to key national priorities for policing (the new National Police Outcomes Framework);

A critical element of Home Secretary’s strategic priority for there to be a relentless focus on cutting crime are the new National Crime and Policing Measures, which set out the Government’s key national priorities on crime. These measures fall under the following headings:

• Reduce murder and other homicides
• Reduce serious violence
• Disrupt drugs supply and county lines
• Reduce neighbourhood crime
• Tackle cyber crime
• Improve satisfaction among victims – with a particular focus on victims of domestic abuse

Reduce murder and other homicides – murder and homicide figures remain low with none in the last 4 months.

Reduce serious violence – overall MSV declined in 20-21 compared to 19-20. However there was a spike in Aug 20 (end of lockdown). The average solved rate has been somewhere between 30-35%. Knife Crime in 20-21 was below the levels seen in 19-20. Gun Crime has fluctuated a lot during 20-21 and is currently slightly below levels seen in 19-20.

Disrupt drugs supply and county lines – Trafficking of drugs has seen an increase in 20-21 compared to the previous 2 financial years. The average monthly solved rate in 20-21 is 76.06%. This is the highest it has been in the last 3 years. Possession of drugs has declined during 20-21. Levels are now comparable with those seen in 19-20 and 18-19.

Reduce neighbourhood crime –

• • Burglary saw a decline during 20-21 (both Residential and Other). The number solved remains low (compared to the number recorded). Personal Robbery declined during 20-21 but increased during March 2021. Levels for both Burglary and Personal Robbery are below those seen in 19-20 and 18-19.
  • There has been a sharp rise in Public Order offences towards the end of 20-21 and levels are now higher than they were in the previous 2 years.
  • Vehicle offences (TFMV and TOMV) increased slightly over the course of 20-21 however are still below levels seen in 19-20.
  • VAP and Hate Crime both showed increases in late 20-21. They are both now above levels seen in previous years.

Tackle cyber crime – Cyber Crime (Online keyword) has increased during 20-21 and is now above levels seen in 19-20 and 18-19. The average monthly solved rate in 20-21 was 8%

Improve satisfaction among victims – with a particular focus on victims of domestic abuse – Victim surveys have recently been re-instated. Satisfaction levels are generally very good particularly for victims of Domestic Abuse. In April 2021, those that agreed with the statement ‘I am satisfied with the way I have been treated by the Police’ was 72% of those asked in a Non DA survey and 86% of those asked in a DA only survey.

With regards to disruptions, we can provide the following statements:

OCG disruptions are recorded against the primary criminality of an OCG rather than the type of disruption. At the start of the financial year several OCGs were recorded as firearms OCGs: however, as they have been reviewed over the past few months the primary criminality has changed to drugs.

The figures for Q1 – 4 20/21 are below:

This is phased by month as below, where you can see the large tail off as you get to the most recent months.