The effectiveness of the police presence in addressing crime in Holt, North Norfolk, is a complex question best answered by examining available data. The current crime rate in Holt (BUA) stands at 67.3 incidents per 1,000 residents. This is notably lower than the United Kingdom’s average of 91.6 incidents per 1,000 residents, suggesting a relatively safer environment. Holt also boasts a safety score of 85 out of 100, exceeding the national average of 79, which further reinforces this impression.
However, assessing police effectiveness isn't solely about crime rates. Response times are a crucial indicator. Data from 2024 shows the mean immediate response time for the police in Holt is 14 minutes. This represents the time taken to respond to emergency situations requiring immediate intervention. For priority incidents, the mean response time is 73 minutes. While this figure isn't excessively long, it's a factor that could be improved upon. Longer priority response times may impact the resolution of less urgent, but still important, issues.
It's important to understand what ‘immediate’ and ‘priority’ classifications signify within police operational procedures. Immediate responses are reserved for situations posing an immediate threat to life or serious risk of harm, while priority responses address incidents requiring prompt attention but not necessarily an immediate danger. The differences in response times reflect the varying levels of urgency assigned to different calls.
While the lower crime rate and high safety score are encouraging, the police presence's effectiveness is also influenced by factors not captured in these simple statistics. Community engagement, proactive policing strategies, and the reporting of crimes all contribute to a safer environment. The data provided only gives a snapshot, and a more complete picture would require analysis of crime trends over longer periods and qualitative feedback from residents.