Chief Constable's Annual Report 2021/22

Outcomes

What is a positive outcome?

A positive outcome can be one of six sanctioned detection outcomes set by the Government, or a restorative justice outcome.

More information, and a full list of sanction detection outcomes can be found on the Government website.

Restorative outcomes (community resolutions) are defined as “the resolution of a less serious offence or anti-social behaviour incident, where an offender has been identified, through informal agreement between the parties involved as opposed to progression through the traditional criminal justice process”.

A community resolution may be used with both youth and adult offenders.

Northamptonshire has recorded significant improvements in positive outcomes and is now one of the best performing forces in the country.

The Force’s efforts to increase positive outcomes have been substantial and sustained. Our rate of progress in the past 12 months has been the second highest nationally.

We saw the rolling 12-month positive outcome ratio increase improve our national standing from 34th in 2020/21 to eighth in 2021/22.

Burglary

• Northamptonshire has continued to see reductions in burglary offences recorded, protecting potential victims from harm.
• Continued reductions have been seen in residential burglary with an 11.6% decrease annually - 256 fewer burglaries - recorded and a 7.5% decrease in home invasion burglary. This means 111 fewer burglaries were recorded.
• Previously Northamptonshire was a negative outlier for this type of offence, so the fall has led to an improved national ranking (28th out of 43 forces in the 12 months to December 2021)

2022-25 Matters of Priority

For the past three years the force has adopted a 12-month rolling priorities campaign with successful outcomes.

Our “Matters of Priority” branding has embedded exceptionally well, both internally with officers and staff, but also with the public.

Further investment in the campaign has seen the development of a three-year sustained campaign in which the Force will build on the existing Matters of Priority and broaden their scope. This is in line with the national policing agenda, including the national Violence Against Women and Girls plan and the overall expectations placed upon police forces by the Home Office.

Three years of sustained focus and a new strategic outcomes framework will ensure Northamptonshire Police can make real and lasting improvements across high harm areas that are affecting the county.

Our four Matters of Priority from April 2022 are:

• Drug Harm
• Serious and Organised Crime
• Violence Against Women and Girls
• Serious Violence

Each Matter of Priority will own its own set of performance measures to deliver.

The public can expect to see the publication of regular updates on progress with the campaign, as well as continued focus on Locally Identified Priorities, through Local and Neighbourhood Policing.

"New strategic outcomes framework will ensure Northamptonshire Police can make real and lasting improvements"

Find out more on our new Matters of Priority campaign.

PEEL Assessment 2021/22

In November 2021 Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary Fire and Rescue (HMICFRS) published the Force’s annual Police Effectiveness, Efficiency and Legitimacy (PEEL) Assessment.

I was delighted to see the Inspectorate recognised the improvements made over the past two years, particularly in key areas where the Force was failing
the public.

In 2019, the Inspectorate was critical of our ability to investigate crime. Its most recent assessment now states that we can investigate effectively and where there are further areas for improvement, I am confident the Force is on a trajectory to both becoming a “good” Force and addressing those areas of concern.

I am very proud of the progress so far, but as a Force we remain resolute and determined to improve the service we provide.

Some of the areas of crime reduction, particularly burglary, have been commended nationally with the Home Office citing Northamptonshire Police as an example of good practice.

I want to thank the public for the continued support with this journey of improvement, and I hope you have started to see a much improved service across the county.

Find out more information about the PEEL 2021/22 inspection.