POLICE CRITICISM

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The deputy leader of Derby City Council criticised the police after a survey revealed three-quarters of city residents fear having their homes burgled. Councillor Philip Hickson made his remarks after the Derby Pointer Panel survey of 529 city residents showed that 73% were "very worried" or "fairly worried" about having their homes broken in to. A further 56% were concerned about being mugged or robbed, according to the survey, and 50.5% were worried about being attacked by strangers.

"When I've raised these issues with Derbyshire Police Authority it's always been met with a degree of scepticism, but this survey shows that these are definitely people's fears," Mr Hickson said. "It concerns me and I'm not satisfied that so many people have these fears. It shows they're not addressing the concerns people have about crime. It's unacceptable." The council uses Derby Pointer Panel as a sounding board on policy issues and other subjects.

It is designed to accurately reflect how people in the city are feeling about a range of topics. The latest questionnaire revealed that people have concerns about all kinds of issues, from their home being burgled to litter on the streets. A total of 1,170 questionnaires were sent out, and there were 529 replies - a return of 45%. Chief Superintendent Tony Hurrell, of Derbyshire police, was not shocked by the findings. "The results don't surprise me, as on any survey about the places where people live, issues around crime and disorder always feature highly," he said. "We've been fairly successful in achieving some burglary reduction figures and Derby is a relatively safe city."

The Derby Pointer Citizens' Panel was set up by Derby City Council in 1998. It is described as a "vital sounding board" for the council and the information is to be used to help improve the city. The panel is made up of 1,000 local people who are meant to be representative of Derby's population by age, sex, ethnicity and area. Panel members are selected at random from the electoral register. The council set up the panel to allow people from the city to have a say in local issues and play a part in developing the city.

Members of the panel are sent four short questionnaires each year and they are also contacted occasionally to take part in discussion groups. The panel is managed by independent consultants Hull-based SMSR. The company sends out all the questionnaires, analyses the results and then forwards the information to the council. It is the council which decides what topics or issues should be included in the questionnaires, and it has the final say on the make-up of the questionnaire that is sent out.

A higher proportion of complaints were proved against police in 2003 than at any time since 1976. While the number of complaints made by the public fell 8% overall, the percentage of investigated complaints that were upheld reached 13%, the highest level for 26 years. The proportion upheld rose almost 4% in two years and nearly doubled since 1991. The number of substantiated complaints rose 5% to 941 for England and Wales, the highest for 16 years. Disciplinary or misconduct allegations were proved against 1,529 officers, up 13% year-on-year. Home Office data showed 115 officers were dismissed or required to resign in the year, an increase of 19% on the previous 12 months.

More than a quarter of complaints (27%) recorded by forces related to accusations of assault by officers, 15% concerned other types of oppressive behaviour and 3% concerned racial discrimination. However, statistics on substantiated complaints showed the bulk (54%) were due to failures in duty, while 10% were due to assaults, 11% to other oppressive behaviour and 1% to racial discrimination. Criminal proceedings were brought against 16 officers as a result of substantiated complaints in the year. In all, 195 officers were convicted of criminal offences, up 4% on 2001-2002. Most of these (134 or 69%) were for traffic offences.

The 61 non-traffic criminal convictions represented a 17% increase year-on-year. The most complaints received per 1,000 officers was recorded in Nottinghamshire with 269, followed by Warwickshire with 261. Durham had the lowest number with 102, followed jointly by Merseyside and Derbyshire with 123. Data showed the largest increase in complaints recorded was Gloucestershire with 29%, while the largest fall was Sussex with a drop of 51%. North Yorkshire had the most substantiated complaints (15.8%), followed by Warwickshire (10.2%), while joint lowest were Lancashire and Northamptonshire (0.6%), then Derbyshire (0.8%).

Suzzane Miller had heard all the stories about the justice system going soft on criminals. But that didn't prepare her for the night she caught an intruder in her home. Police arrived in time to apprehend him, but not only did they fail to arrest him, they then gave him a lift home in a patrol car. The outraged householder, who lives alone, has made a formal complaint against the Dorset force. Her MP has taken up her case and said last night that police must have gone ‘barking mad'.

Miss Miller, a 34-year-old secretary, was woken by noises downstairs in her cottage in the village of Ashley Heath, near Verwood, Dorset, at 3am. She dialled 999 to alert police then crept across the landing to the top of the stairs. Horrified, she came face to face with a man in the hall below. As he made to climb the stairs she yelled a warning that she had a knife and would not hesitate to use it, and that she had already called the police. Her threats had the desired effect and the intruder turned to flee.

Thanks to a quick response from the police, however, he ran down her drive straight into the arms of two constables and a dog handler. But when the officers called a desk sergeant at the police station they were apparently told not to arrest the offender and to take him home. The officers left without taking a statement from Miss Miller, who was only interviewed two days later when she went to the station in person and demanded action. Dorset Police last night refused to discuss the case.

But Miss Miller's Conservative MP Christopher Chope said he was told the bizarre decision was made because the intruder was drunk and the officers believed he may have entered the property by mistake through an unlocked back door. "I am appalled that a thing like this could happen," he said. "Here we have a woman who is alone in her house late at night and wakes to find an intruder, but instead of arresting the suspect the police apparently give him a ride home."

Mr Chope, who represents Christchurch, said the police seemed more concerned with the fact that Miss Miller had a knife in her home. Ann Warman, a member of the Dorset police authority, said she was horrified by the case. She said, "Incidents like this cause the general public to have absolutely no confidence in police. The man should have been apprehended, taken back to the police station and fingerprinted. There were grounds for arrest. When I hear stories like this from my constituents, and I hasten to add this isn't the first, I have trouble justifying an increase in council tax."

A spokesman for Dorset Police said both the alleged break-in and Miss Miller's complaint were being investigated. "A criminal investigation is still being conducted as well as an internal one into the conduct of the officers. It would be wrong to comment further."

Teenager Kurt Walker was asked by his companion what he was up to and replied, "Fuck all, mate." The private conversation was overheard by a police officer, who promptly handed a him an £80 fixed penalty notice. However, the 18-year-old is refusing to pay the fine, the same punishment as that dished out for being drunk and disorderly, stealing goods worth up to £200 or causing £500 damage.

The student, from Deal, Kent, said he was given the penalty notice as he walked home from a community centre where he does voluntary work. The Rev Ian Gregory, of the Campaign for Courtesy, said, "If we were to fine everyone £80 for using that word we could solve the national debt." Kent Police insisted swearing was a crime under the Public Order Act. A spokesman said, "If Mr Walker is not happy, he can have his case decided by court." (Source: Metro)

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