Ensuring calls for help are answered, and the police attend quickly, are two areas which the Police and Crime Commissioner is looking to improve for victims in West Mercia.
As part of a recent formal Holding to Account meeting with the Chief Constable, both the PCC and the Chief Constable made a commitment to improving not only the call handling times, but the level of service victims receive on the phone and the response times of officers.
The PCC was reassured to see a sustained focus from the force on improving the service to victims, ensuring more victims are satisfied and the confidence in policing builds. This has included looking at the quality as well as quantity of referrals to PCC funded victim support services and a focus on quality investigations and better outcomes.
Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said “Ensuring people can get the right help in their time of need is integral to building a police service the public can trust. Call handling and response times are areas the Chief Constable and I are committed to improving. I have already invested significantly in resources for this area, but will look again at this level of resourcing as part of the forthcoming budget.
“I am pleased to see the force have already delivered what they say they would to improve victim satisfaction. Whilst the final outcomes for victims are a matter for the Criminal Justice System, the investments to ensure investigations are the best they can be, and the victims get the right support help to build a better overall experience for those affected by crime.”