Essex emergency response times rise by 38% in three years

NIGHTTIME emergency response times have increased by 38% over three years at Essex Police, one of the highest increases in England and Wales.

Across the country, police response times to urgent 999 calls between 11pm and 6am increased by an average 17% between 2011 and 2014.

The biggest increase was in Bedfordshire, where response times jumped by 57%, from seven to 11 minutes.

Devon and Cornwall Police had the second largest increase in the country, followed by Essex, Kent and West Mercia Police, which all had increases of more than 30%.

Cambridgeshire and South Wales Police were the forces with the longest response times in the country, both taking an average 14 minutes to reach crime victims, while the average waiting time in Durham was 13 minutes.

Out of 27 forces that replied to a Freedom of Information request by the Labour Party, 20 reported an increase in response times. Only two forces had reduced the waiting period for victims.

South Wales and West Yorkshire Police cited cuts in officer numbers as an explanation for the delays.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the increase was a “direct consequence of Tory police cuts” and warned that “victims are being put at risk”.

The number of police officers in England and Wales has fallen by 17,000 since 2009, but Ms Cooper warned that a Tory government could mean the loss of more than 20,000 officer posts.

Steve White, Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said that – with 17,000 fewer officers and 17,000 fewer police staff around – it could come as “no surprise” victims of crime are waiting significantly longer for police help to arrive.

“What we are seeing are the dangers of the government cutting the police budgets so harshly over the last five years,” he said.

Mr White added: “Cuts have consequences and the politicians must start backing the police service. Otherwise, despite the best efforts of officers, victims of crime are going to have to wait longer and longer for police attention.”

The Home Office continues to point to crime statistics, claiming that a fall in crime proves that police forces have enough resources.