999 calls should be top police priority

A SURVEY shows that people in Chesire think responding to emergency calls should be the police’s top priority.
Cheshire Police Authority carried out the survey, which included the Warrington area, asking people for their policing priories.
Responding to emergency calls was put top of the list by 89 per cent of people. The other top five priorities were detecting crime and arresting offenders, tackling violent crime, tackling organised crime and terrorism and targeting drug dealers.
More than 68 per cent of respondents felt that Cheshire Police do an “excellent” or “good” job and nearly 70 per cent believed that police and local councils were dealing with anti social behaviour and crime issues in their area, compared with less than 64 per cent last year.
Providing crime prevention advice and tackling community problems such as parking, graffiti and damage, were seen as lower priority with many believing these to be a council responsibility.
More than 1,3000 people took part in the survey via street interviews, road shows, postal surveys, focus groups and public meetings. Results will be used as part of the process of drawing up the next Policing Plan.
Margaret Ollerenshaw (pictured), chairman of Cheshire Police Authority, said, “These results are important. The priority choices give a good overall picture of what matters to local people.
“The information means police resources are used on issues which people want tackled. The growing satisfaction with the results seems to indicate it is working.”