Key Facts Technical Note

The PEEL Assessment for each force is supplemented by a panel of key facts that are intended to orientate the reader by answering basic questions about the force area:

  • Where is it?
  • How big is it?
  • How many people live there?
  • How many people work for the local police force?
  • How many victim-based crimes are recorded (as a proxy for how busy it is)?
  • What does it cost to operate the force?

Further information is provided on key facts page accessed from the panel via the “Compare and view key facts” link.

The figures contained in the key facts for each of the 43 police forces may differ from those previously published elsewhere because of differences in definitions and time-periods.  The definitions and sources used are set out below.

1.0 Force area: (this is also presented on the key facts panel)

…is measured to the nearest square mile.

Source:        Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy

2.0 Population count: (this is also presented on the key facts panel)

…is the count in millions. It is based on mid-year estimates of the residential population in 2013. As an exception, figures for the City of London are the transient population figures, which take into account the large number of commuters.

2.1 Population change: (this is also presented on the key facts panel)

…is the percentage difference in population (defined at 2.0) for 2013 compared with 2003.2.2 Population density: …is the count in people in the residential population (defined at 2.0) divided by the area in square miles (defined at 1.0).2.3 The chart:…is the count in millions of the residential population, based on mid-year estimates of the residential population in 2013 and the three preceding years (i.e. 2010, 2011, 2012).

Source: Office of National Statistics

3.0 Workforce:

…is the number of full-time equivalent police officers, police staff including section 38 designated officers and police and community support officers (PCSOs) as on 31 March 2014.

3.1 Frontline: (this is also presented on the key facts panel)

…is the proportion of the workforce, as on 31 March 2014, in a role deemed to have everyday contact with the public and who directly intervene to keep people safe and enforce the law. Those absent from duty due to maternity/paternity leave, career break, full time education, long-term leave (e.g. sickness) or suspension are excluded.

3.2 Workforce per 1000 population: (this is also presented on the key facts panel)
…is the number of full-time equivalent police officers, police staff including section 38 designated officers and police and community support officers (PCSOs) as on 31 March 2014 divided by the residential population (defined at 2.0), then multiplied by 1,000.

3.3 Change: (this is presented on the key facts panel)

…is the percentage difference in the number of full-time equivalent posts (defined at 3.0) as on 31 March 2014 compared with those in posts as on 31 March 2010. These figures may differ from those previously published, for example in the Value for Money inspection reports, due to the different time periods.

3.4 Table composition of the workforce:

…for each year from 2010 to 2014, the number of full-time equivalent posts as on 31 March divided by the residential population for mid-2013 (defined at 2.0), then multiplied by 1,000. The number of police officers, police staff (as defined at 3.0), and PCSOs full-time equivalent posts are shown with the total (emboldened) number of posts.The figures in parentheses are the equivalent for England and Wales.For each year, the population estimate for mid-2013 has been used to make any year-on-year changes in the size of the workforce more obvious.

Note: these workforce figures may differ from those published in earlier inspection reports – in particular Value for Money inspection reports – since workforce projections in those inspections include vacant posts (whereas the figures here are only those in post).

Source: Home Office

4.0 Victim-based crimes per person: (this is presented on the key facts panel)

…is the number of police recorded victim-based crimes for the 12 months to the end of June 2014, divided by the residential population (defined at 2.0). The count of police recorded victim-based crimes includes violence against the person, sexual offences, criminal damage, arson, robbery and theft offences. It does not include drug crimes, possession of weapons, public order and miscellaneous crimes against society, fraud or anti-social behaviour.

4.1 Victim-based crimes per 1000 people:

…is the number of police recorded victim-based crimes (defined at 4.0) for the 12 months to the end of June 2014 divided by the population estimate for mid-2013 population (defined at 2.0) multiplied by 1000.

4.2 Change: (this is also presented on the key facts panel)

…a significant upward/downward trend (with a 95% confidence level) in police recorded victim-based crime for 2010 to 2014 (for the 12 months ending June in each year) is identified with an upward/downward pointing arrow.

4.3 The chart:

…shows the number of police recorded victim-based crimes for the 12 months to the end of June 2014 and the four preceding years (2013, 2012, 2011, 2010), divided by the population estimate for mid-2013 population (defined at 2.0) multiplied by 1000.The equivalent figures for England and Wales are also shown.For each year, the population estimate for mid-2013 has been used to make any year-on-year changes in the number of crimes more obvious.

Source: Office of National Statistics/Home Office

See also: Crime and Policing Comparator.

5.0 Cost: (this is also presented on the key facts panel)

…figures are the budget estimates for the 12 months beginning in April 2014 divided by the residential population (defined at 2.0) and the number of days in a year.Costs are calculated as total expenditure minus earned income to show the total cost to the tax payer. The costs for national functions have been excluded to aid comparability because these vary significantly between different forces.This does not represent the amount charged per person through the council tax precept.

5.1 The chart:

…shows the budget estimates at the beginning of April for successive 12 months periods from 2011 to 2014 divided by the residential population (defined at 2.0) and the number of days in a year.The equivalent costs for England and Wales are also shown.For each period, the population estimate for mid-2013 has been used to make any year-on-year changes in the number of crimes more obvious.

6.0 Funding:

…the chart shows the proportion of the budget from central and local funding. The estimates of the central and local funding for the 12 months beginning April 2014. They do not include other income that the force earns – from recharging for services, for example.The vast majority of central government funding to the police forces comes from the Home Office, with the Welsh Government and the Department of Communities and Local Government providing a small amount in relation to council tax freeze grants. Local government funding comes from the precept to the council tax.

Source:        Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy

See also:      Value for money profiles.