More about this area

The force says...

Hertfordshire covers 634 square miles, with 70 percent of the county designated rural. Four population centres, Hemel Hempstead, St Albans, Stevenage and Watford, have over 50,000 residents. The standard of living is mostly high, unemployment low and residents healthy, well educated and well paid, however, there are areas of deprivation and social exclusion. The population of 1.18m continues to increase, rising rapidly from 1.03m in 2001. 19.2 percent of residents are from ethnic minority groups.

The Constabulary’s 2018/19 budget is £208.8m; £172.6m of which is currently spent on staff. The workforce comprises of 1,959 police officers, 223 police community support officers, 1,502 police staff and 287 special constables.

Ten community safety partnerships (CSPs), aligned to local authority areas, maintain a strong local policing focus. Each CSP has dedicated neighbourhood, local response and crime teams, supported by inter-agency partnerships and centralised specialist support. Significant collaboration, chiefly through a strategic alliance with Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire, provides protective services and a range of operational and support functions increasing effectiveness and efficiency.

Recorded crime continues to reflect national trends increasing in 2018/19 over the previous year, though by only 1.5% compared to the national average increase of 8%. This small increase is predominantly attributed to increases in violence without injury (including notable technical rises in levels of stalking & harassment), public order (notably technical causes) and acquisitive crime (likely to be actual, including vehicle crime, shoplifting and robbery).

Keeping people safe through safeguarding and in particular those who are vulnerable, remains a key priority. The Constabulary continues to collaborate with partner agencies to strengthen this area including, for example, the fire and rescue service. Additionally there has been increased resourcing and focus within the force control room ensuring improved handling of incoming calls and the management of risk to the public.

Disclaimer: the above statement has been prepared by Hertfordshire Constabulary. The views and information in it are not necessarily those of HMICFRS.