CJS is fair but not effective latest BCS figures reveal

While over half of the UK sees the criminal justice system (CJS) as fair on the whole, only 37 per cent see it as effective Home Office Statistics reveal.

The quarterly crime figures for October to December 2008 also contain the first annual confidence figures introduced in October 2007.

For the period January 2008 to December 2008 British Crime Survey (BCS) statistics show 58 per cent of the representative sample were confident the CJS is fair, compared with 37 per cent who were confident it is effective.

The new questions replace previous questions in the BCS that covered the seven aspects of the CJS.

For the same period 47 per cent agreed that the police and local council were dealing with anti-social behaviour and crime issues that matter in their area.

Other questions on public perception remained from previous surveys and so are comparable with 2007.

People that thought the police did a good or excellent job was up one per cent to 53 per cent in 2008 compared with 2007, but this was not thought to be statistically significantly different.

Respondents viewing abandoned or burnt out cars as a very or fairly big problem was down to six per cent in 2008 compared with seven per cent in 2007, and respondents viewing people being drunk or rowdy in public places as a very or fairly big problem was down from 25 per cent to 26 per cent, both of which are deemed statistically significantly different.

Association of Police Authorities (APA) Chairman, Bob Jones said:

“It is heartening to note that yet again the percentage of people who believe the police in their area do an excellent or a good job continues to increase. The continuing roll-out and strengthening of Neighbourhood Policing across the country has done much to improve public perception of the police. I am convinced that there is scope for public confidence in the police to improve even further as Neighbourhood Policing becomes more deeply imbedded in local communities.”

Outgoing Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) president, Sir Ken Jones, said;

“The relationship between police and public is fundamental to good policing…across the police service, forces are committed to building public confidence in our ability to keep people safe, through tackling crime and disorder, giving local people a say in the crime issues that matter in their streets and neighbourhood and improving their everyday experience of policing.”