Durham Constabulary are committed to providing an excellent policing service that we and those we serve can be proud of and which keeps our communities safe. We will continually strive to act with integrity, fairness and respect in delivering this service to ensure that the confidence and support of those we serve is protected as our most valued asset.
Our staff will perform their duty consistent with the Code of Ethics which has been developed by the College of Policing. The Code provides information on how to achieve ethical decision making and indicates how breaches of the Code will be dealt with. It combines policing principles and standards of behaviour in a single document; is inclusive, applying to everyone in Durham Constabulary be it police officers, staff, special constables, volunteers or contractors.
Click here for a summary of our Code of Ethics
In Durham Constabulary we expect our staff to adopt a mature, professional approach when delivering your policing service and encourage them to exercise well-reasoned judgement and discretion with the ultimate aim of ‘doing the right thing’ by policing to the needs of those we serve.
Our force values which deliver the "Durham Difference" are positivity, courageousness, fairness, inclusivity with integrity.
When we get things wrong we will acknowledge and understand our mistakes, learn lessons for the future and follow a restorative approach to repair any harm done and find a positive way forward.
Our focus will go beyond identifying culpability and will also focus on fixing problems to ensure our service continually improves. Our behaviour, actions and decisions will always be in support of the public interest. We value public trust and confidence in policing as an institution and to earn this we will be open to scrutiny and be transparent. This will include the attendance at misconduct hearings, which need to be in public.
Durham Constabulary will enforce standards and educate our staff to ensure our workforce understands and achieves the high standards expected of us.
Gender Pay Gap report
The force is required to carry out Gender Pay Reporting under the Equality Act 2010 (Gender Pay Gap Information) Regulations 2017. This measures gender pay over six different metrics, and information is published annually on the force website. The data shows that there exists a gender pay gap and the force is committed to eliminate the gap via the following steps:
- Ensuring open and transparent recruitment procedures are in place to encourage females to apply to join the force at all levels
- Transparent procedures for identifying and delivering learning and development needs across the force as part of maximising both its capacity and capability
- Ensuring open and fair promotion processes across the force
- Having strong role models across the force
- The application of family friendly policies
- The application of flexible working practices
The above will require the ongoing review of procedures, the provision of unconscious bias training as well as feedback from both male and female officers and staff in relation to the openness and fairness for core procedures. Realistically, however, it will take time to eliminate the gender pay gap despite a clear commitment by the force.
Click here to view the latest report.
Public Consultation
In Durham Constabulary we expect our staff to adopt a professional approach when delivering your policing service which is in line with our values of ‘positive, fair, courageous and inclusive with integrity’.
We encourage our staff to exercise well-reasoned judgement and discretion with the ultimate aim of ‘doing the right thing’ by policing in a way which is bespoke to the needs of those we serve.
In order to understand how well we are delivering the services that we provide, we carry out regular, public consultation and survey work and in particular, victim satisfaction surveys.
These are surveys of people who have recently come into contact with the police after reporting either a burglary, vehicle crime, violent crime, criminal damage, harassment, fraud or an incident of hate or those reporting anti-social behaviour. We have also recently introduced a survey for those affected by domestic abuse. The results of these surveys are analysed and the findings are used to drive improvements to the services that we provide to the public.
We also carry out a programme of public consultation on a wide range of policing issues, via surveys, focus groups and engagement with specific minority groups to ensure the views of the public are represented across all communities.
Victim Satisfaction Surveys
These are telephone surveys and are carried out on our behalf by SMSR Ltd. (Social and Market Strategic Research) who are an independent market research company, based in Hull, who meet the requirements of the national framework contract developed by the Home Office. These surveys ask people about the service they received from Durham Constabulary in a consistent and independent manner and allows us to provide information to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), enabling them to conduct Victim Service Assessments, which are done for each police force as part of an independent and mandated inspection process.
Victim feedback 2020/21
From the last reporting year, small improvements were made in terms of what our victims told us about the service and again, victims told us that they were satisfied with the service that we provided to them. Taking the whole experience into account 81% of victims said that they were satisfied with the way their crime was dealt with. Further, 96% indicated that they were satisfied with the ease of contacting us and although not quite as improved as we are striving for, satisfaction with the way we keep victims informed about the progress of their crime has seen an increase with 74% of our victims saying they are satisfied with the follow up the received. Work continues with our strategic team focussing on victim and witness service improvement plans and we hope to see this work reflected in the 2021/22 results.
Victim feedback 2019/20
In general, victims told us that they were satisfied with the service that we provided to them and taking the whole experience into account 80% of victims said that they were satisfied with the way their crime was dealt with. Victims were satisfied they could get in touch with us with 95% satisfied with ease of contacting us and victims felt they had been treated well, with 93% stating they were satisfied with the treatment they had received. An area we found that needed further focus was around the follow up we provided victims with as this result was lower than we would have wished for, with 73% of victims stating they were satisfied.
Statutory Legal Gateways for Surveys
This telephone survey processing is fair as in the significant public interest. This is because it accords with public task and legitimate interests policing requirements, to improve public confidence and trust in policing and to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of policing services across Co Durham. Victim satisfaction surveys form part of Durham Constabulary’s official functions to ensure we provide an efficient and effective policing service. The statutory need to be efficient and effective is set out in primary legislation, namely the Police Act 1996 and the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Order 2011. The lawful basis for surveys is also derived from Section 143 (1) of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 that enables local policing bodies (Police Forces) to arrange for the provision of services that, in the opinion of the local policing body will secure, or contribute to securing, crime and disorder reduction in the body’s area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why have you passed my details on to a private research company?
In order that we can independently gather information that helps us to understand the services we are providing, we share a limited amount of information with SMSR for the sole purpose of allowing them to contact you and ask for your views on the quality of service you were provided with through the victim satisfaction surveys.
Is this in breach of the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)?
No, SMSR act on our behalf to do work that is directly connected to the core business of Durham Constabulary.
We do not seek service users consent for this necessary survey function, as we use the alternative and equal to consent DPA 2018 and GDPR enabling legal conditions of public task and legitimate interests to then legally process personal data for the survey purpose.
We have a data processing contract with SMSR, which deals specifically with issues relating to the use of personal information. This contract states that SMSR may use the information only for the purpose of conducting victim satisfaction surveys on behalf of Durham Constabulary. It also states that this personal information is not to be used or retained by SMSR for any other purpose, that approved security measures are put in place to protect the data and that all SMSR staff having access to the information must sign a confidentiality agreement. More information about the Data Protection Act 2018 and your rights can be found on the Office of the Information Commissioner website.
What if I don’t want to take part in this survey?
If you are contacted to take part in the survey but you do not want to, simply tell the caller and they will end the call.
If you would prefer not to be included in any more potential satisfaction survey, please let the caller know this as well; alternatively, please contact us directly by emailing us at: hqstrategicdevelopment@durham.police.uk and provide your name, address and telephone number.