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REPORT RAPPORT |
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REPORT RAPPORT |
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DATE:
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17 January 2012 |
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TO/DEST:
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Executive Director, Ottawa Police Services Board |
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FROM/EXP:
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Chief of Police, Ottawa Police Service |
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SUBJECT/OBJET: |
PERFORMANCE REPORT – FOURTH QUARTER 2011
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The Ottawa Police Service monitors and evaluates information on a variety of performance metrics. The Service also contributes data to a number of local and provincial initiatives, including the Ontario Municipal Benchmarking Initiative (OMBI) and the Municipal Performance Measurement Project (MPMP). As part of a cooperative effort in sharing performance data, performance indicators are first presented to the Board then forwarded to the City of Ottawa for inclusion in its Quarterly Performance Reports.
DISCUSSION
As part of our commitment to measuring performance, the Ottawa Police continues to work with the City by providing selected metrics to be included in the quarterly performance reporting framework, including:
§ Total calls for police service;
§ Emergency response calls for service (Priority 1);
§ Response performance on Priority 1 calls (on-scene within 15 minutes, 90 percent of the time);
§ Service time (citizen-initiated, mobile response calls); and,
§ Number of Criminal Code Offences per officer.
This information has been regularly provided to the City’s Performance Measurement Branch. The measures are also included in the annual OMBI report and as part of the Ottawa Police performance measurement framework launched in 2008. Fourth quarter metrics are now presented to the Board prior to being compiled with other city data for Council.
Total Calls for Service – All Priorities
The Ottawa Police has received an average of 376,000 calls for service annually over the past five years. In 2011, the number of calls grew by one percent, to over 390,000. The increase was the result of an 18 percent rise in the number of alternative response calls handled by the Ottawa Police. Conversely, calls requiring a mobile police response declined by five percent (-14,540) in 2011, falling from 279,117 to 264,577 calls.
After holding constant in the third quarter, calls handled by the Ottawa Police rose by 2.5 percent in the fourth quarter from same period last year.
Emergency Calls for Service (Priority 1)
Priority 1 calls, otherwise known as emergency response calls, are characterized as crimes in progress or life threatening situations. In the past five years, the number emergency calls has risen steadily, growing by 11 percent to over 77,000 calls in 2010. The number of emergency response calls declined by approximately one percent, or 1,000 calls over 2011.
In the fourth quarter, emergency response calls were consistent with the same time period in 2010, growing by less than one percent to 18, 243.
The Ottawa Police aims to respond to Priority 1 calls for service within 15 minutes 90 percent of the time. For the past five years response performance has fluctuated between 87 to 90 percent. Call volume, travel time, and available resources most influence police response.
In the fourth quarter, response performance declined slightly (-0.7 pct points) compared to results achieved last year (87.3%). Overall, response performance declined marginally in 2011, from 87.6 percent to 87.3 percent citywide.
Service Time (Citizen-Initiated, Mobile Response Calls for Service)
Service Time refers to the cumulative amount of time (hours) officers spend responding to and dealing with calls for service from the public. The service time metric is used for operational planning and deployment of personnel. Seasonally, reactive workload fluctuates throughout the year, with variations in climate influencing call volume and criminal behaviour. Service time in 2011 rose one percent (3,000 hours) to 289,000 citywide.
At mid-year, service time remained consistent with levels observed in 2010; however, through the past two quarters the amount of time required to handle calls for service grew by nearly 3,000 hours. In the fourth quarter, service time rose by 760 hours or one percent compared to the previous year.
Number of Criminal Code Offences Handled per Police Officer
The number of reported Criminal Code of Canada incidents prorated over the number of sworn personnel is one indication of workload. This, of course, does not capture the entire scope of police operations, including proactive initiatives, assistance to victims of crime, traffic enforcement/Highway Traffic Act violations, street checks, and other community and public safety activities. In 2010, the number of Criminal Code offences declined five percent (2,000 offences) compared to the same time period last year.
In the fourth quarter of 2011, the number of Criminal Code offences per officer rose by 13 percent to 6.9 offences per officer, from the same period last year. The increase was driven by nearly 1,100 additional offences during this time period.
The Board will continue to receive quarterly performance updates as part of the performance measurement framework contained in the 2010-2012 Business Plan. As well, Ottawa Police representatives will continue to serve on the OMBI Police Expert Panel, the national Police Information and Statistics (POLIS) Committee, and other venues that contribute to the ongoing discussion, improvement, and transparency of police performance measures.
(Original signed by)
Vern White
Chief of Police
This document contains information that reports on activities related to the Ottawa Police Business Plan.
