Durham PEEL 2014

Durham focuses on the needs of the victim, and on tackling crime and criminals. The force actively engages with its communities to ensure it knows what matters to them, and takes action to solve local problems. Staff take responsibility for preventing crime through a problem-solving approach.

Partnership working and information sharing are embedded and strengths for the force.

Durham continues to provide a good service to victims of domestic abuse and helps keep them safe. Tackling domestic abuse is a priority for the force and staff, with staff demonstrating a high level of commitment and awareness.

Total victim care is the daily business for the entire workforce. This way of working is reinforced by senior leaders, by the way staff talk, and by corporate communication, training and performance management.

The victim is placed at the centre of any investigation. The force is effective at investigating crime.

Durham has achieved success in reducing reoffending rates.

Each neighbourhood maintains its own problem solving database which is accessible and searchable by all staff. Each plan has a complete history of actions undertaken and what has proven successful.

The force is successfully tackling anti-social behaviour through community engagement and understanding the causes of offending.

The force uses an approach known as ‘restorative justice’ effectively to tackle anti-social behaviour and prevent crime.

Senior leaders place a strong emphasis on the importance of tackling anti-social behaviour, which is clearly recognised by staff and partners alike.

Partnership working for tackling anti-social behaviour is embedded and effective. The force works well with local authority partners in understanding local anti-social behaviour concerns and finding solutions.

The domestic abuse inspection found that the communities of County Durham and Darlington could have confidence that the police provided a good service to victims of domestic abuse and helped keep them safe. The inspection found a strong focus on victim care and safety at each stage in the process.

The crime inspection found evidence that Durham continued to provide a good service to victims of domestic abuse. The inspection also reviewed Durham’s domestic abuse action plan and found that all the recommendations made in the force inspection report are being followed up. These include improvements in call handling, training and how victims are informed of court results. The force has also set out the activity it is taking to respond to the national priorities for change in this area.

There was no Strategic Policing Requirement inspection for this force.