Still more to be done to improve our force

The most comprehensive study of the performance of England and Wales' police forces found that Cheshire was generally performing well.

The study assessed 16 main areas of work, giving them grades of excellent, good, fair and poor. Cheshire was described as good in 11 areas and fair in the other five.

Areas where it has performed well include:

l Recruiting up to the police officer target

l Community support officer numbers;

l Responses to policing bureaucracy taskforce

l Forensics

l Police science and technology developments

l Use of anti-social behaviour orders

l Reform of police training

l Response to the national recruitment standards

l Use of the high potential development scheme.

But the inspectors found that development and leadership training were lacking.

HMIC's Ken Williams said the report found that Chf Con Peter Fahy enjoyed the support of his staff and was clearly visible and accessible.

He said: "Both Mr Fahy and the other members of the Chief Officer group provide clear leadership and direction."

Police authority chairman Peter Nurse said the assessment underlined what the authority already believed.

He said: "Cheshire has a good performing police force that consistently achieves its targets in key areas of policing.

"The common goal is to improve the already high standards of service provided to the communities of Cheshire, Halton and Warrington."

But Chf Con Peter Fahy said there was still more to be done.

He said: "HMIC's report reflects the complexity of modern policing and the vast number of new initiatives and pieces of legislation now available.

"We must ensure that we take full advantage of these. However, the report, while positive in a wide range of issues, does not tell us anything that we don't already know.

"We have achieved real and significant improvements in performance over the past year, but still need to do more to increase the confidence of local people."

rbabington@guardiangrp.co.uk