Fifth Charter Mark Award for Tayside Police

Tayside Police has gained Charter Mark – the Government’s UK-wide standard for excellence in public service – for the fifth time in a row. The force first attained Charter Mark status in 1993. “We’re extremely proud to have achieved Charter Mark for the fifth consecutive time,” says John Vine, Chief Constable of Tayside Police. “Charter Mark is a key component of our performance toolkit because it gives us feedback from the communities we serve, and therefore helps us to address their needs and concerns.” Why Tayside Police Values Charter Mark “Charter Mark focuses on our outward face and how we provide choice, flexibility, value and quality for our customers,” says Tayside Police Spokeswoman Sarah Craig. “It recognises Tayside Police as an organisation that has gone the ‘extra mile’, sought feedback from partners and users, and used that feedback to improve. “This process is very useful because it constantly makes us critically examine every aspect of our organisation and our relationship with customers, community partners, staff and other stakeholders. “Charter Mark is also important because it focuses firmly on outcomes – the service actually provided to the customer. It’s an important way of achieving our stated objectives and standards of service – and delivering consistently, in many locations over a wide area and across the organisation. “Charter Mark provides a robust framework for the rapid and continual improvement that supports our extensive partnerships, collaboration and consultation. Our customers are clearly noticing these improvements: recent surveys show high levels of public satisfaction in our call management, policing style, officer contact and other aspects of our service.” Assessing Tayside Police “We chose SGS United Kingdom Ltd to carry out our Charter Mark assessment following the recommendation of another force,” says Sarah Craig. “One of our staff attended a Charter Mark workshop run by the SGS assessor before we started work on the application and found this well presented and informative. “The assessor was positive and supportive throughout the three-day assessment. We had worked hard to accommodate his visit and ensure he met key staff and partners, and he was flexible in accommodating the schedule arranged for him and any changes that occurred.” Charter Mark Report In his report, SGS’ assessor commended Tayside Police on its work with partners and the community, its co-operation with other agencies to acquire additional funding, its use of new technology and the way it manages its calls. He also highlighted particular positive developments at the force, including: ● improved DNA testing and co-operation with other agencies ● recruiting a drugs analyst to reflect changing customer demand ● improved co-operation and sharing of information with social work and health services ● Operation HomeSafe, aimed at reducing violent crime and disorder ● a new telephone system, which has increased call handling capacity and routing flexibility ● deploying a mobile office in ‘hotspots’, reducing the number of officers required in an area without diluting impact, providing high-visibility reassurance, disrupting anti-social behaviour and acting a focus for the public to discuss concerns and provide information ● Travel Safe, a scheme to reassure bus passengers, act as a deterrent and help to solve more assault crimes ● using LPG dual-fuel vehicles to reduce environmental impacts Ends

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