The public in Suffolk place great value on a rapid and effective response from the police to incidents and calls for assistance. The Constabulary should always provide an 'immediate response' to callers but this may not involve immediate attendance by an officer.
The Constabulary should maintain the ability to respond in the most appropriate manner based on the nature of the call and the needs of the caller.
"What will this statement mean for the public?"
The public should dial 999 whenever they think there is a need for a police officer to attend immediately. The police will reply swiftly and decide what the appropriate response should be. If necessary, one or more officers will be dispatched at once.
If that level of response is not warranted, the public should recognise that the matter may be satisfactorily dealt with over the telephone or by an agreed appointment at a later date. By providing an 'appropriate' response rather than always assuming an immediate attendance is necessary, officers' time will be spent where they can do most good.They will be more readily available for incidents that truly require an officer's presence.
The public can be confident that the police will always be able to respond appropriately to major incidents and to potential outbreaks of public disorder.
continued reduction in the number of road traffic offences committed will help to reduce serious accidents and casualties and contribute towards a safer Suffolk. We recognise the importance of maintaining a safe and effective road network for everyone.
"What will this statement mean for the public?"
Reducing road traffic accidents will reduce the personal loss, damage and trauma suffered by residents and visitors to Suffolk who are involved. The police will continue to support local authorities in initiatives to help reduce accidents, but the public also has a key role to play, especially through its behaviour when using the roads. There is much that the public can do to help: by, for example:
Anyone who provides information that leads to their becoming a witness in a case, or who is a victim of crime, will be kept regularly informed on the progress of the case and receive sympathetic support if necessary.
Young people will receive the benefit of personal safety, crime prevention and citizenship advice provided through the Police Education Partnership.