The Policing Board has published the latest survey on the public’s perception of policing in Northern Ireland. The Omnibus Survey also charts public opinions of the Policing Board and Policing and Community Safety Partnerships (PCSPs).
Speaking about the findings, Board Chair Anne Connolly said:
“The Board uses this survey as one means of assessing confidence levels in the PSNI. Overall the findings are broadly positive with five in six respondents having some, a lot or total confidence in the police’s ability to provide a day- to-day policing service for everyone in Northern Ireland. Whilst one in six of respondents thought that the overall standard of policing in their area had got worse, nine out of ten of those surveyed felt very/ fairly safe in their local community.”
The survey also reports on public perceptions on the role and work of the Policing and Community Safety Partnerships (PCSPs). Findings in respect of PCSPs indicate that just under one in two respondents had heard of their work. Seven out of ten respondents who had heard of the Board thought that the Board helps ensure the PSNI do a good job.
Mrs Connolly said: “The Board is an established part of the policing architecture and the independent oversight it brings ensures the work of the PSNI is robustly scrutinised. At a time of reducing resources and increasing demands on the PSNI, this accountability is critically important.”
In relation to the work of the PCSPs she added, “The Board and the Department of Justice jointly support the work of the PCSPs. It is a little disappointing, given the broad range of work taken forward by PCSPs over the last year, that public awareness has largely remain unchanged. The alignment of PCSPs to the new eleven council area model and policing districts, will streamline structures and bring new opportunities for collaborative working which will be of benefit to the community.”
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Forany further information please contact the Policing Board Communications Office on 07801738795.
Notes to Editors
1.The full report on the survey findings can be downloaded from the Board's website
2. Omnibus Survey: The Northern Ireland Omnibus Survey is undertaken several times a year by the Central Survey Unit of the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. The findings above relate to the Policing Board module of the January 2015 Omnibus Survey.
The sample used for this survey comprised 1,861 randomly selected households across Northern Ireland drawn from the Land and Property Services Agency list of addresses. The survey was completed between 5 January and 9 February 2015 with a total of 1,114 interviews which gave a response rate of 60%
3. Statutory Responsibility: Section 34 of the Justice Act (NI) 2011 sets out the functions of the Joint Committee (comprising representatives from the Board and DOJ) which oversees the work of PCSPs. It states in s34 1(a) “The Joint Committee must assess the level of public satisfaction with the performance of PCSPs.”
Notes to Editors ends.