Staffordshire PEEL 2014

Staffordshire Police has a sophisticated understanding of demand which is reviewed regularly and used to inform decisions on how resources are allocated.

The force has identified that technology needs to improve and is developing plans to use IT to increase productivity.

Partnerships and joint working are used to improve the service to the public and make best use of officer time.

Crime has fallen over the spending review period at a greater rate than elsewhere, although there has been a slight increase in the past 12 months. The force has continued to maintain the highest level of victim satisfaction in England and Wales and is working to improve it further.

Staffordshire Police is in a strong financial position to meet both its short and medium-term challenges.

It has overachieved on savings and, as a result, has balanced its budget for 2014/15 and 2015/16. It has detailed financial plans until 2019/20. The force has maintained a strong focus on effective service provision while making these considerable savings.

Future plans have been identified and are in the process of being explored in further detail. These include continued efficiency savings internally, and innovative and ambitious plans for wider public sector reform for providing community safety across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

Staffordshire Police changed the way it provides policing early in the spending review.

The force is developing plans for collaboration with the local public sector and the private sector to achieve a considerable proportion of future savings.

The management of change is intelligent and well led. Staff have a good understanding of the rationale for the changes and are engaged in developing the future plans.

Despite one of the biggest reductions in police officer numbers, the force has increased the proportion of officers at the front line. It has also successfully increased the size of its Special Constabulary by 70 percent and is making effective use of volunteers.