Policing standards

Cheshire Constabulary has clear standards and statements on the quality and equality of services provided to the public. These outline the levels of service the public can expect when asking for assistance. They are an important element in ensuring that acceptable levels of service and performance are maintained.

Core values of the Constabulary

  • Service - providing a service with the positive consent and support of all of our communities.
  • Professionalism - striving to improve our skills and expertise in order to improve performance.
  • Integrity - maintaining the trust and confidence of our diverse communities demands us to be honest and ethical in how we conduct our business. It also requires rigorous and objective investigation and appropriate remedial action to be taken where appropriate.
  • Compassion - delivering services in a sympathetic and considerate manner and maintaining a duty of care to victims, witnesses and the public in general.
  • Equality and fairness - underpinning everything we do is a commitment to equality and fairness in the delivery of services to the public and in our treatment of each other.

Service standards cover the key service areas of operational policing. These are:

Call Management

If you telephone we will:

  • Answer 999 calls within 15 seconds from the time they are passed to us by the telephone company
  • Respond to incidents requiring an immediate response within 15 minutes
  • Answer non-emergency calls within 30 seconds

An incident requiring immediate response is when:

  • There is danger to life
  • Violence is used or is threatened
  • A serious crime (violent crime/burglary) is in progress or likely to occur
  • A suspect for a serious crime is nearby
  • There has been a road traffic collision involving personal injury or danger to other road users
  • A person who is especially vulnerable needs assistance

Crime Management

If you are a victim of crime we will:

  • Respond to complaints of crime as promptly as the circumstances allow us to
  • Record the crime and details of any loss or injury you have suffered
  • Analyse the details provided
  • Explain to you how the crime will be investigated and provide a contact point for future enquiries and details for insurance companies
  • Follow all practical lines of investigation
  • Identify any preventative measures and liaise with appropriate agencies
  • Treat you with sympathy and consider your welfare needs
  • Make a victim of crime leaflet available to you
  • Provide your details to a local Victim Support scheme where appropriate
  • Give particular consideration to victims who are especially vulnerable e.g. children, the elderly, victims of violent or sexual crime and those severely shocked
  • Inform you of the results of the investigation

Community Policing

We will:

  • Patrol at times and in places where it will have most effect in reassuring the public
  • Operate in a way that keeps policing close to local communities
  • Recognise the value of developing partnerships with other agencies
  • Provide you with the opportunity to be involved in supporting policing activities.

Disorder Management

If you report an incident of disorder or public nuisance we will:

  • Explain to you how the incident will be dealt with
  • Record the details of the disturbance
  • Analyse the details provided
  • Identify any preventative measures and liaise with appropriate agencies
  • Treat you with sympathy and consider your welfare needs
  • Provide you with a contact point for future enquiries

Traffic Management

If you are directly involved in an injury road traffic collision we will:

  • Respond in accordance with the force graded response policy
  • If necessary take steps to secure the scene and ensure your safety
  • Record the details
  • Examine the evidence to identify the cause
  • Identify any preventative measures and liaise with appropriate agencies
  • Treat you with sympathy and consider your welfare needs
  • Provide a contact point for future enquiries and details for insurance companies
  • Provide an update within 10 days and every 30 days thereafter until completion of the investigation