'Most people in Herefordshire have confidence in West Mercia Police'

A total 81 per cent of residents and victims of crime who completed the survey from January to March said they have confidence in the force, with confidence remaining at more than 80 per cent across West Mercia over the past year.

As the voice of the public in policing, Mr Campion says he is committed to ensuring West Mercia Police focuses on the people’s priorities. Nearly three quarters of respondents (72 per cent) said they feel the police understand the issues in their community.

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In Herefordshire, anti-social behaviour (ASB) has been highlighted as an area of concern following feedback from the public in the Your Views survey in 2022. Following action by the PCC to tackle this issue, the latest data states the majority of respondents (88 per cent) do not think crime and ASB is a problem in their local area.

Other key findings of the Herefordshire survey include:

• Seventy-nine per cent of those surveyed are confident they would receive a good service from West Mercia Police
• A majority (58 per cent) of respondents feel the police were doing either an excellent or good job
• Satisfaction with the levels of policing in their local area has risen by 4 per cent to 62 per cent.

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“I really value hearing from residents and victims about their views, experiences and confidence in their police force," said Mr Campion.

“I welcome the increase in public confidence in West Mercia Police. However, I am acutely aware that this isn’t job done.

"Trust can erode quickly if officers fall below the high standards expected of them. I will continue to support and hold the Chief Constable to account to build further on these strong foundations.”

Superintendent Helen Wain added: “I am pleased to see that over 80 per cent of Herefordshire residents have confidence in West Mercia Police. My teams across the county work extremely hard on a daily basis to prevent and detect crime and anti-social behaviour, to protect vulnerable people and to focus on the issues that have the biggest impact across local communities. 

“I will not be complacent, however, and continue to strive with my teams to work effectively, together with partners and communities, to ensure Herefordshire remains a safe place to live, work and visit.”