§ Mr. Nicholas Bennettasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what performance indicators are at present being used to measure the efficiency and cost effectiveness of police forces in England and Wales.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe setting of objectives, and the monitoring and evaluation of performance, is part of the376W responsibility of police managers at all levels. Central guidance on this and other good management practices is set out in the Home Office circular 114/1983, a copy of which is in the Library. Objectives are set in relation to local circumstances, and their evaluation is a matter for each chief officer of police, in consultation where appropriate with the local police authority.
The Home Office has traditionally judged a force's efficiency and effectiveness by Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary's professional assessment of its overall performance, taking into account such matters as the extent and nature of policing problems in the area and the level of resources available to it. Statistical and other information is collected centrally from forces.