The local police in Eastwood, a Built-Up Area (BUA) within Broxtowe, face several challenges impacting their ability to effectively serve the 18,970 residents. While Eastwood's crime rate of 90.4 per 1,000 population is marginally lower than the UK average of 91.6, and its safety score of 80/100 is slightly above the national average of 79, significant issues related to response times are a cause for concern.
The most pressing challenge is the length of time it takes for police to respond to incidents. Data from 2024 indicates a mean immediate response time of 27 minutes. This is the time taken to respond to incidents requiring urgent attention. More concerningly, the mean priority response time is a substantial 737 minutes. A priority response signifies that an incident requires a response, but not immediately. This extended timeframe suggests a strain on resources and potential delays in addressing non-urgent, but still important, issues.
Several factors likely contribute to these delays. These could include limited police personnel, increased demand for services across Broxtowe, and logistical challenges in covering the area effectively. The exact reasons would require further investigation by Broxtowe Borough Council and Nottinghamshire Police.
It's important to note that while the overall crime rate is comparable to the national average, any delay in response time can negatively impact the perceived safety of residents and potentially lead to escalation of incidents. The relatively high priority response time, in particular, suggests that even incidents requiring attention beyond immediate urgency are experiencing significant delays, potentially hindering preventative measures and investigations. While the safety score of 80/100 is positive, improvements in response times would likely further enhance this score and contribute to greater resident confidence in the police force.