TACKLING anti-social behaviour and criminal damage are among the key priorities and objectives for the coming year, say Hertfordshire Police Authority. The policing plan for the county was launched last week by the authority with other targets being to br

TACKLING anti-social behaviour and criminal damage are among the key priorities and objectives for the coming year, say Hertfordshire Police Authority.

The policing plan for the county was launched last week by the authority with other targets being to bring more offenders to justice and tackle Class A drug supply and its impact on criminality.

Chairman of the authority Ian Laidlaw-Dickson said: "We have listened closely to the feedback from the public, our stakeholders and partnership organisations, and this has had a significant influence on the plan's priorities for the year ahead.

"We have included targets that focus on anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and the other low-level crimes that affect people's everyday lives.

"At the same time, we remain committed to reducing, preventing and detecting crime, especially those crimes that affect the more vulnerable people in our communities, such as domestic violence.

"One of the greatest measures of how good a service is performing is the level of satisfaction of its users."

Mr Laidlaw-Dickson added: "Everyone should expect and receive a high quality of service. Whilst its overall satisfaction levels are relatively high, the constabulary needs to increase victim satisfaction levels with the follow-up services it provides and we have included challenging targets for the year ahead.

"Among the challenges for the year ahead are improving frontline services despite government grant increases that have not kept pace with inflation.

"However, we are determined to build on the constabulary's previous success and ensure that the best possible policing services are provided to the people of Hertfordshire."

Chief constable Frank Whiteley said: "The new initiatives around Safer Neighbourhoods mean that we now have more police officer and PCSOs than ever before working at a local level.

"The officers and staff at Hertfordshire Constabulary will continue to work to the same high levels of commitment and professionalism whilst meeting the many challenges of the year ahead."