In accordance with section 1(1) (b) of the Act our response is
provided below;
Question 1
In answer to the first part of the question - relating to
expenditure on obtaining data since 2008 - the most relevant costs
I can provide are those associated with gathering public perception
data via our local confidence survey (Be Safe Feel Safe), for which
please see the response to question 2.
However, it is important to realise that much of this work would
have been done anyway as part of our responsibility to understand
and respond effectively to public concerns. In other words, our
surveys do not just ask about that particular target, but also
include questions designed to help us deliver a better service to
the public.
In terms of analysing the resultant data, I cannot attribute
costs to this without doing a considerable amount of work (in
excess of the 18 hours limit) that would only provide, at best, a
non-definitive, approximated cost. My explanation for this is that
data produced from the surveys, has been applied across all areas
of policing and therefore handled by a number of people across the
whole force (Area staff, Corporate Communications, Police Authority
and so on). It has also been evaluated and used by partnership
agencies (e.g. Local Authorities) in conjunction with these
departments.
It is also important to note that evaluation of this type of
data is seen as 'business as usual' for the force, as it has been
used to both inform our ability to engage with our communities and
understand and deal with the issues that matter to them. The
information gathered which includes questions around such issues as
antisocial behaviour, the perception of drug-taking etc, - all
existing ways of understanding and improving policing for local
communities.
Question 2
Please see the caveat in question 1: it cannot be assumed that
the full cost is associated purely with the confidence target that
has since been scrapped.
However, it is worth noting that Cheshire did receive a grant
from the Home Office to cover the cost of the surveys
(£46,125).
Question 3
No, we are not contracted to continue to pay that company, but
please note that the assumption that there is no longer the 'need
for the data to be assembled and collated' is not quite accurate
for the reasons outlined above.
All organisations, including the police, need to understand what
is important for the people they serve and whether they are in fact
meeting those priorities. Following the Home Secretary's
announcement, we are reviewing how we approach this to ensure we do
so as cheaply and as effectively as possible.