2010 - 2013 Policing Plan launched

I am just leaving for the monthly public meeting of the Policing Board.

Earlier this week the Policing Board launched the 2010 - 2013 Policing Plan. This plan sets out some very challenging and ambitious objectives, performance indicators and targets for your Police Service in the areas of Service Excellence, Tacking Serious Harm and Personal Policing. We are absolutely committed to achieving them. A copy of the plan is available from the Northern Ireland Policing Board's website.

The statutory responsibility of the Policing Board is to secure an effective and efficient Police Service and to hold the Chief Constable to account for performance. This relationship is a professional and productive one but not, nor should it be, always a comfortable one.

The monthly meeting is an opportunity to share publicly the many successes of the Service in the recent weeks. Successes such as:

• Lowest monthly crime figures in December, January and February for over 12 years
• Overall clearance rate up by 2.5%
• Domestic Burglary down by 2.3%
• Lowest overall crime per 1,000 people compared to our most similar forces in GB
• A homicide clearance rate, this year, of 95%
• 20 persons currently charged or reported for Terrorist related offences
• Numerous successes in the fight against organised crime such as Cash in Transit robberies, drugs, people trafficking, extortion and money laundering
• Considerable forfeitures of money, vehicles and property under the Proceeds of Crime Act
• Small by comparison but very significant the recovery of a stolen bicycle in Holywood through the social media relationship between the police and the local Community through Facebook - a first for PSNI and NI.
  

We are never complacent and many of our successes are reliant on the consistent support and co-operation of you, the public, and with this continued support this, much more can be achieved to ensure that, in partnership with you, we do everything possible to keep you and your community safer.

Whilst we would always prefer that you report crime or suspicious activity to us direct, if you prefer to make a confidential report on anything - no matter how insignificant it may seem -you can always call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.