Cambridgeshire Police Verdict

11 March 2010, 06:06 | Updated: 11 March 2010, 06:24

A new report card, which grades police forces across the country on a number of factors, says Cambridgeshire Police isn't good enough at solving crime.

It is the only "poor" rating Cambridgeshire Police is given by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary.

It refers to solving burglary, vehicle crime, robbery and violence against people.

However, the force is praised in a number of other areas.

The assessment singled out the force for doing well in fields such as tackling serious sexual crime, anti-social behaviour, suppressing gun crime and working to improve satisfaction among ethnic minority communities.

It also says Cambridgeshire Police is a national leader in tackling human trafficking.

John Fevyour, deputy chief constable of Cambridgeshire Police, said: "This is a really encouraging start which underlines the progress we have made in fulfilling the promises made to Cambridgeshire in the policing pledge - not just words but a way of working together with communities which puts public priorities at the top of the policing agenda and results in real action to tackle the issues that matter most to local people."

Commenting on the force's only poor rating, in solving crime, DCC Fevyour added: "We are as disappointed with this as the nine other forces given the same grading.

We have changed our approach and are beginning to get much better results."

The report also stated that the cost of policing in Cambridgeshire is low with one of the "lowest numbers of police officers and staff relative to the local population than anywhere else in the country."

The chairman of Cambridgeshire Police Authority, Ruth Rodgers, said: "We're delighted that the hard work in the areas highlighted has been recognised in the grades.

A lot of work has gone into tackling serious sexual crime in particular, for which the force should be congratulated.

Against a background of limited resources the results are particularly encouraging."