The visibility and effectiveness of the police presence in Sharpness, a Built-Up Area (BUA) within Stroud, is a key concern for many residents. To address this, let's examine the available data. Sharpness has a crime rate of 67.8 incidents per 1,000 residents. This is notably lower than the UK national average of 91.6 incidents per 1,000 residents, suggesting a relatively safer environment. Furthermore, Sharpness boasts a safety score of 83 out of 100, exceeding the UK average of 79, which further reinforces this perception of relative safety.
However, the effectiveness of the police in deterring crime isn’t solely about the crime rate itself, but also about response times. Data from 2024 indicates that the mean immediate police response time in Sharpness is 15 minutes. This represents the time taken to respond to emergency situations requiring immediate intervention. In contrast, the mean priority response time – for incidents requiring attention but not immediate action – is a considerably longer 91 minutes. This disparity highlights a potential challenge in addressing non-urgent issues promptly.
It's important to consider what factors contribute to these figures. Sharpness has a relatively small population of 1637, which could impact resource allocation and response times. While the lower crime rate is positive, the longer priority response time might indicate areas where the police force could benefit from increased resources or improved efficiency in triaging calls. It is also important to remember that these are mean times and individual experiences may vary. The data doesn't provide information on the quality of police interactions or the effectiveness of preventative measures, which are also crucial aspects of crime deterrence. Ultimately, the perceived effectiveness of the police presence is subjective and influenced by community engagement and individual experiences.