News
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
Rate your local police and act as a mystery customer
HOW would you rate your local police? Now is your chance to let them know by using a brand new website to post your views.
Rateyourlocalpolice.co.uk – a site managed by West Midlands Police Authority, which is independent of the force – allows the public, anonymously if they wish, to score the service received from officers and staff, and see what everyone else is saying about them too.
Comments will be forwarded to the local police station and neighbourhood officers are given the chance to post a reply.
The aim of the website is to give members of the public a chance to say exactly what they think about policing in their area, both good and bad.
The site is limited to the area served by West Midlands Police, covering
“By using this website members of the public are free to air their views about the quality of service they have received. Their comments will then be fed into the organisation to help the police to improve their service in all areas of business,” said Chair of the Police Authority Derek Webley.
“It effectively allows members of the public to act as ‘mystery customers’ and rate the service they receive from their police. Website users can remain anonymous if they want to – we want to know about the service they get rather than who they are – but by publishing the comments, people will see what other people have already said,” continued Derek Webley.
“This site adds to the ways the Authority works pro-actively to find out what people want from their police service, so their needs are met. It could reflect any area of policing – from calling the main switchboard through to the service received out on the street, at the scene of an incident or in a police station front office.”
Chief Constable Chris Sims commented: “Every day I receive dozens of letters from grateful members of the public about the positive service they have received from officers and police staff, often in difficult circumstances. I hope the site will reflect some of this positive feedback as well as highlighting those areas where we need to improve.
“The feedback that we receive will be an effective way of monitoring our customer service levels, ensuring we meet the standards we have set ourselves. It also gives us the ability to identify weaknesses and to gain a better understanding of the perceptions of members of the public who use our service.
“I hope that by being open and transparent in this way we can really shape our service in the future.”
“I believe that highlighting the experiences of our customers – good or bad – is essential to improving the way policing is delivered,” added Chris Sims.
“The feedback section allows people to see what action we have taken and that we have listened to what they have to say to us.”
Click here to view the new website.