The level of police presence in Rural East Staffordshire, a Built-Up Area within East Staffordshire, is a complex issue to assess. While direct numbers of officers stationed specifically within this area aren’t publicly available, we can analyse the data provided to understand the context of police response and perceived safety.
Firstly, the crime rate in Rural East Staffordshire stands at 49.7 incidents per 1,000 residents. This is notably lower than the United Kingdom’s average crime rate of 91.6 per 1,000 residents. This suggests a relatively lower incidence of crime compared to the national picture. The population of this area is 16,561, meaning approximately 82 incidents occurred in the period covered by this data.
However, crime rates alone don't paint the full picture. The area's safety score is 86 out of 100, which is also above the UK average of 79. This higher safety score implies a general feeling of security amongst residents, likely influenced by factors beyond just the raw crime figures, such as community cohesion and perceptions of safety.
Crucially, understanding the police response times is vital. Data from 2024 indicates a mean immediate police response time of 14 minutes. An immediate response typically applies to situations requiring urgent attention, such as crimes in progress or those posing an immediate threat to life. The mean priority response time, however, is significantly longer at 218 minutes. Priority responses are for incidents that require police intervention but don’t necessitate an immediate presence. This longer response time may be a consequence of the rural nature of the area, potentially involving greater distances to travel and fewer officers available to deploy.
It's important to note that these are mean response times, and individual experiences may vary. Rural areas often present unique challenges for policing, including dispersed populations and larger geographical areas to cover. While the lower crime rate is encouraging, residents should remain aware of their surroundings and report any concerns to the police.