The visibility and effectiveness of the police presence in Fulbourn, a built-up area in South Cambridgeshire, present a mixed picture. While the area benefits from a significantly lower crime rate than the UK average, understanding police response times is crucial for assessing overall safety.
Fulbourn’s crime rate stands at 35.4 incidents per 1,000 residents. This is substantially lower than the UK average of 91.6 per 1,000, suggesting a generally safe environment. Furthermore, Fulbourn boasts a commendable safety score of 92 out of 100, exceeding the UK average of 79. This score reflects residents' perceptions of safety and the overall security of the area.
However, examining police response times reveals a potential area for improvement. Data from 2024 indicates a mean immediate response time of 19 minutes. This refers to incidents requiring urgent attention. More concerningly, the mean priority response time is 116 minutes. A 'priority' response signifies incidents that require a response but are not immediately life-threatening. This longer timeframe could be due to various factors including resource allocation, geographical challenges, or the volume of calls received. It's important to note that these are mean times, meaning some responses will be faster, and some slower.
It’s difficult to directly correlate response times with crime rates in assessing police effectiveness without further data on crime clearance rates or resident satisfaction surveys. However, the combination of a low crime rate and high safety score suggests that, despite the longer priority response times, the overall policing strategy is contributing to a safe environment. The lower crime rate might be, in part, attributable to the presence of police and community initiatives, even if response times are not as swift as desired. Residents should be aware of the priority response times and understand the circumstances under which they apply.