Improving Public Confidence in Birmingham Ashley Ames Research Director, Ipsos MORI Issues facing Britain: Dec 2008 What would you say is the most important issue facing Britain today? What do you see as other important issues facing Britain today? Top mentions % Economy 66 35 Crime/law and order Race relations/immigration Inflation/prices Unemployment Defence/Foreign Affairs/ Terrorism NHS Education/Schools Poverty/Inequality Housing Change since Nov ‘08 22 +4 -3 0 17 15 13 12 10 8 7 -1 0 0 -1 +1 +2 -1 Base: 983 British adults 18+, 11th-16th Dec 2008 Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index A steady rise in prominence of crime as key public issue over past 25 years 90 80 Proportion citing crime/law and order as a key issue 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 Year 08 07 20 20 06 05 20 20 04 20 03 20 02 01 20 20 00 20 99 19 98 19 97 19 96 19 95 19 94 19 93 19 92 19 91 19 90 19 89 19 88 87 19 19 86 19 85 19 84 19 19 83 0 …despite many falls in concern about specific crimes…. Burglary % very worried Car crime Violent crime 30 25 25 22 20 19 17 15 13 10 5 0 1998 2000 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 Source: Nicholas, S., Kershaw, C. and Walker, A. (2007) Crime in England and Wales 2006/07 Home Office Statistical Bulletin 2nd Edition, Crown Copyright 2006/07 Two-thirds agree British society is ‘broken’ To what extent do you agree or disagree that British society is broken? Don’t know Strongly disagree 27% Strongly agree 3% 11% Tend to disagree Agree 35% 16% 7% Neither 28% 63% 18-34 63% 35-54 61% 55+ 64% ABC1 61% C2DE 65% Tend to agree Base: 1,017 British adults 18+, 12-14 September 2008 Source: Ipsos MORI Political Monitor How well do we know “the public”? What do the public think will reduce crime in Britain? Q Which two or three of these do you think would do most to reduce crime in Britain? 57% 49% Better discipline in schools 46% More constructive activities for young people Capital punishment for murder More effective programmes to change behaviour 41% 24% ?? •More offenders in prison 23% •Introducing a national 19% 11% Base: Representative samples of British residents (c.2,000), 2004 identity card •Better parenting •More police on the beat What do the public think will reduce crime? Q Which two or three of these do you think would do most to reduce crime in Britain? Better parenting 57% More police on the beat 49% Better discipline in schools 46% More constructive activities for young people Capital punishment for murder More effective programmes to change behaviour Introducing a national identity card More offenders in prison 41% 24% 23% 19% 11% Base: Representative samples of British residents (c.2,000), 2004 We love ASBOs Q To what extent do you support or oppose the issuing of ASBOs to people responsible for anti-social behaviour? Strongly oppose 1% Tend to oppose Don’t know 2% Neither/nor 3% 12% 42% Tend to support 40% Base: All respondents in England & Wales (1,857) Strongly support Are ASBOs effective? Q To what extent do you think ASBOs are effective in… % Not effective % Effective Stopping people from 46 causing anti-social behaviour 39 0 Base: All who have at least heard of ASBOs (1,724) Are ASBOs effective? Q To what extent do you think ASBOs are effective in… % Not effective Stopping people from causing anti-social behaviour 46 Showing the local community that something is being done about anti- 35 social behaviour Base: All who have at least heard of ASBOs (1,724) % Effective 39 53 Do we ask the right questions? Priorities for the Police Q20 How important do you think it is for xxx Police to focus resources on the following…? 60% Response to 999 emergencies Tackling gun crime Bringing offenders to justice Investigating major crimes Supporting work to counter terrorism Tackling drug abuse Making police more visible to the public Tackling burglary of homes 47% 45% 42% 34% 31% 30% 30% 29% 28% 25% 25% % 23% Tackling anti-social behaviour Reducing robbery Tackling domestic violence Dealing with problems cause by young people Tackling racial discrimination Helping develop sense of community spirit Improving road safety Reducing vehicle crime Base: All respondents (502) 16% 14% 13% rating as ‘essential’ A new era with new measures … How much would you agree or disagree that the police and local council are dealing with the antisocial behaviour and crime issues that matter in this area? But does it matter? Police and Councils not so different after all? Q. Seek people’s views about crime/anti-social behaviour in local area? % Disagree % Agree Police 42 39 Local Council 43 37 Q. Successfully dealing with crime/anti-social behaviour issues that matter? Police Local Council 30 37 42 35 Q. Keep people informed about how crime/anti-social behaviour is dealt with? Police 45 34 Local Council 45 33 Base: 1,896 GB adults, 18+. Sept 2008. Source: Ipsos MORI We can communicate, consult, engage, involve and empower But what do residents want? Need to understand the public point of view Q Which of these statements comes closest to your own attitude towards how the Police and Local Council tackle anti-social behavior and crime in this area? Already involved (3%) Want active involvement (3%) 16% Want more of a say Want information 58% 18% (but no further involvement) Don’t care (as long as they do job) Base: 1,896 GB adults, 18+. Sept 2008. Source: Ipsos MORI So what do journalists want? Importance Score Speedy response 1.36 Open/honest relationship 1.21 Newsworthy material 1.14 Long-term relationship 1.11 Willingness to discuss issues 0.96 Access to top staff 0.82 Advance warning of stories 0.79 Pro-active attitude and actions Regular personal contact 0.75 0.32 Invitations to events -0.21 Regular press releases -0.21 Base: Ipsos MORI Journalists study 2007 + - Favourability to organisations Press relations and favourability Line of “best fit” - Perceived quality of press relations Base: Business & Financial Journalists (59), Summer 2005 + What do people want to be told, and how? How would people like to receive information about local policing? And how, if at all, would you like to be kept informed about progress made on neighbourhood policing priorities? TOP MENTIONS Police newsletter 38% From police via letter 17% Council newsletter 16% From police at a public meeting 13% Local paper 10% In person from a PCSO/police officer 6% From police via email 6% Crime and policing representative 3% Police authority 3% Base: 1,585 adults aged 15+ living in England and Wales; fieldwork 26-29 September 2008 Public interest in police information Thinking about the sort of information the police could give you, can you please tell me how interested you would be in receiving information about each of the following matters? % Very interested What is being done about crime and anti-social behaviour in your area 52% 52 How much crime and anti-social behaviour there is in your area 49% 49 Names and contact details of the safer neighbourhood policing team in your area Who is in charge of policing in your area How money is spent on policing in your area 45% 45 32% 32 30% 30 Base: 1,000 residents living in the Hampshire Police Force area; fieldwork 28 th August to 8th September 2008 Do we communicate the important things? Q How well informed do you feel about each of the following? 90 How and where to register to vote How to pay bills to the council 85 What standard of service you should expect 43 What the council spends its money on 41 How to complain to the council 41 How you can get involved in local decisionmaking 40 How well the council is performing 29 Whether council is delivering on its promises What the council is doing to tackle anti-social behaviour in your local area Base: Birmingham CC BVPI survey 2006 26 21 % Informed More and more proof that direct communications work 1. From OCJR … Positive impact on confidence Proportion saying they were confident that the CJS was effective in bringing people who commit crimes to justice Pre 60% 50% Post 40 40% 34 48 46 45 30 33 37 30% 20% 10% 0% Any leaflet Posted through door Handed personally Source: http://www.justice.gov.uk/docs/inform-persuade-remind.pdf Handed with explanation 2. From Surrey … Impact of newsletters in East Surrey 80% Confident in neighbourhood 71% police 70% 75% Tandridge 70% Mole Valley 60% 66% Reigate & Banstead 58% % 40% Tandridge Mole Valley 39% Tandridge 38% Reigate & 34% Banstead 32% Mole Valley 20% 53% 42% 41% 38% 35% 23% Reigate & Banstead 0% Wave 1 Wave 2 Aware of neighbourhood officer/ team Feel well informed about policing What you say and how you say it Be wary of … “Crime has been reduced by xx%” “This area is the safest it has been for xx years” “You are less likely to be a victim now since xx” Year 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 00 99 98 97 96 95 94 93 92 91 90 89 88 87 70 86 85 84 83 80 19 19 19 19 Remember … 90 Proportion citing crime/law and order as a key issue 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Keep it local, local, local As well as localised … Action-oriented – What is being done? – Is this tangible (ie how can people hold you to account?) Visually stimulating – Pictures / maps / photos / colour Contact details Distribution ideally by local PCSOs/neighbourhood teams Fairly frequent (at least quarterly?) Branding will vary depending on area – eg in London “Metropolitan Police” has resonance, “Safer Neighbourhoods” does not – No Jargon (partnerships take care!) Real life stories are best… Kenneth Williams on Jackanory 1968 Not some corporate “strategy” How can people be engaged most effectively? In favour of engagement, but don’t always do it Q In principle, would you support or oppose extending Community Partnerships to other parts of the Borough? Q And would you personally be interested in getting involved? Support Involvement Don’t know Don’t know/no opinion Depends 12% No, oppose 2% 18% 6% 26% Yes ONLY 2% TURNED UP!! 82% 54% Yes, support Base: All residents (1,021) No Source: All respondents who support the idea (835) In favour of engagement, but don’t always do it Q In principle, would you support or oppose extending Community Partnerships to other parts of the Borough? Q And would you personally be interested in getting involved? Support Involvement Don’t know Don’t know/no opinion Depends 12% No, oppose 2% 18% 6% 26% Yes ONLY 2% TURNED UP!! 82% 54% Yes, support Base: All residents (1,021) No Source: All respondents who support the idea (835) In your area … How well are local meetings co-ordinated? – Police/ local council / residents association / tenants association / etc What follow-up do attendees receive? – Can they see the benefit of attending / giving their views? Is format / structure … – Engaging for attendees? – Engaging for facilitators? – Tailored to ensure follow-up? Your staff are key Customer service is critical Q Taking everything into account, would you say the police in your area do a good or a poor job? % who rate police as good All satisfied with their contact with the police All dissatisfied with their contact with the police Base: All contacting police in Public Contact survey 72% 50% Advocacy for Criminal Justice System Q. Which of these phrases best describes the way you would speak about the Criminal Justice System as a whole? % Be critical Overall 32% 21% CPS 24% Probation 26% Magistrates’ courts Police 44% 49% 26% +5 26% +2 24% 28% Net ± % -13 19% Crown court Prisons % Speak highly 19% -2 -9 10% -34 10% -39 Source: Ipsos MORI, 2006 Base: Wave 4 All staff (junior and senior) within CJS agencies (2,402). Fieldwork: 1st June – 12th July 2006 Advocacy - self fulfilling prophecy? % Strongly agree that they would speak highly of the authority to others outside the organisation 51% 38% 33% 25% 25% 20% Overall Excellent Good Base: All respondents (500). Fieldwork: 12th – 27th May 2005 Fair Weak Poor Over to you .. Your understanding of local residents – Why are residents more negative than people in this room? – What would make them more positive? Your communications and engagement – How could you improve their (positive) impact on the public? Your people – Are you using staff most effectively? – What would make them stronger advocates?