Police chief's back-to-basics approach cuts crime by 12%

A POLICE chief of a force that has seen offences plunge by almost 12% following a tough clampdown has revealed: "I have a policy that says crime is a priority."

- Giles Sheldrick

Burglary, car thefts, criminal damage and shoplifting rates have all plummeted in Norfolk because of a back-to-basics approach that puts the public first.

Chief Constable Paul Sanford said: "Our communities expect, and rightly deserve, exceptional service. The success of this depends on getting the basics right, such as answering emergency calls promptly, investigating crime well, owning the job at hand, supporting victims and being visible."

Norfolk is now the best-performing force for catching and prosecuting shoplifters a crime that has risen exponentially during the cost-of-living crisis - with a charging rate six times that of the bottom-ranked Met Police. In 2018, Norfolk became the first force to scrap all 150 community support officers allowing them to increase full officer numbers to 1,899 up from 1,549 in 2013.