More about this area
The force says...
Suffolk Constabulary polices a population of over 745,000 with 1,081 full time equivalent police officer posts.
Suffolk covers 1466 square miles across a county that is largely rural but home to a number of vibrant urban areas. It has a coastline that stretches from Lowestoft to Felixstowe (one of the largest container ports in Europe), four military bases and a nuclear power station.
The county’s population has grown by 2.3% since 2011 and is expected to rise to over 770,000 by 2023. By 2023 over 50% of the population is anticipated to be aged 45 and over. More than 83,000 people in Suffolk live in income deprivation. Tourism plays a key role in the local economy contributing £1.85 billion in 2016, with 38,369 associated jobs.
Suffolk Constabulary is sixth lowest in the country for officer numbers per 1,000 population. The workforce has reduced by 11.7% in the last five years.
The net revenue budget for policing in 2018/19 is £116.6 million. Since 2010, £27.5 million has been identified in savings, £17.1 million of which has been achieved through collaboration. Savings of £2.3 million are planned for 2018/19, with further savings of £3.2 million needing to be identified by the end of 2021/22.
The constabulary receives over 276,000 calls for service each year; over 35% of these are 999 emergencies. Around 52,000 crimes were recorded in 2017.
The constabulary’s strategic assessment outlines a departure from ‘traditional’ crime, emphasising vulnerability and hidden harm, e.g. serious sexual offences, child sexual exploitation, hate crime, domestic abuse and honour based abuse & modern slavery. The composition of recorded crime has changed with substantial growth in recorded abuse and violent crime – domestic abuse offences have increased by 30% in the last year and violence by 13%.
There is an increase in both the volume and complexity of demand, including significant demand around safeguarding and mental health.
Disclaimer: the above statement has been prepared by Suffolk Constabulary. The views and information in it are not necessarily those of HMICFRS.