Dorset PCC welcomes HMIC Report ‘Valuing The Police 4’
Friday, 25 July, 2014
Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, Martyn Underhill welcomes this report, which recognizes the strong response of Dorset Police to meeting the financial challenges over the last three years, whilst limiting the impact on frontline policing. He said "I am also pleased to see the continued drop of crime which is a huge testament to the hard work of police officers, police staff, volunteers and our partners."
HMIC has identified good practice in the Force for meeting the required financial savings to safeguard frontline policing. It recognises that we have to plan for emerging threats such as cybercrime and child sexual exploitation and therefore it remains important that we continue to invest in those services to protect future generations.
The report details how Dorset Police is one of the lowest funded and lowest spending Forces in the country and how reductions to our budget are felt severely as a result. I am confident that the Force can achieve its saving target of 23.2 million pounds over the four years of the spending review (March 2011 – March 2015), but it will mean having to look elsewhere, such as collaborative work, to avoid impacting on frontline services and our ability to cut crime.
Martyn Underhill wenton to say "these are challenging times but I will be working closely with the Chief Constable and our partners to ensure that despite reduced funding, communities across Dorset receive a good service from their Police Force."
