The question of police presence in Wingham, a built-up area in Dover, is often linked to perceptions of safety and security. While it’s difficult to quantify the physical police presence (number of officers patrolling, etc.) directly from available data, we can assess the level of police service through crime statistics, safety scores, and response times.
Firstly, Wingham boasts a remarkably low crime rate of 38.4 incidents per 1,000 residents. This is significantly lower than the UK average of 91.6 incidents per 1,000, suggesting a relatively safe environment. A safety score of 90 out of 100 further reinforces this positive assessment, exceeding the UK average of 79. These figures indicate that, statistically, Wingham experiences less crime than many other areas in the country.
However, understanding the level of police service requires examining response times. Data from 2024 shows a mean immediate response time of 19 minutes. This refers to situations requiring urgent police intervention. More concerningly, the mean priority response time is 101 minutes. A 'priority' response indicates incidents that are serious but do not require an immediate presence – this extended timeframe could be a cause for concern for some residents. It’s important to note that these are mean times, and actual response times can vary considerably depending on factors such as incident location, available resources, and the nature of the incident.
The disparity between the low crime rate and the longer priority response time suggests that while crime is infrequent, when it does occur, it may require more involved investigations or resource allocation, contributing to the longer response time. It doesn't necessarily indicate a lack of police presence, but rather a possible allocation of resources to address incidents effectively. It's also important to remember that response times can be influenced by broader regional factors and policing strategies.
While these data points provide valuable insight, they don't offer a complete picture of police presence. Factors like community policing initiatives, the availability of local police officers, and crime prevention programs are also important considerations.