DO Hillingdon people have confidence in the police?

The level of confidence can now be tracked for the first time at both a borough and neighbourhood level through two new online tools, launched by London’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Stephen Greenhalgh.

The Confidence Dashboard and Neighbourhood Confidence Comparator allow residents to see how well their local police are performing, compared to other similar areas, and also which Londoners, in terms of age and ethnicity, have least confidence in them.

The Confidence Dashboard shows confidence at a borough level and between different social groups.

It highlights an ‘east-west' divide, with those living in West London generally reporting a more favourable attitude towards the police.

In Hillingdon, overall confidence is 77 per cent.

The borough rates comparatively well compared to all London boroughs, the highest confidence being 86 per cent in Richmond and the lowest 49 in Newham.

The Dashboard also reveals that, since March 2012, confidence has improved across all groups.

Boroughs in London are made up of a wide variety of neighbourhoods, and simple borough comparisons do not give the full picture of confidence levels.

It differs across Hillingdon’s four neighbourhoods, being 65 per cent in Hayes, 73 in Hillingdon north, 66 in Uxbridge and 66 in West Drayton.

The Neighbourhood Confidence Comparator groups London’s 108 policing neighbourhoods into 12 types, depending upon dozens of economic, demographic and social indicators.

Hayes and West Drayton are classified as ‘settled multi-ethnic’, along with seven other neighbourhoods, with confidence ranging from 53 per cent in Redbridge South to 73 in Feltham.

Hillingdon North is classified as ‘Quiet Ageing Outer’, along with nine other neighbourhood,s with confidence levels ranging from 61 per cent in Havering South to 78 in Bromley South West.

Uxbridge is classified as ‘Crowded Outer Suburbia’, along with nine other neighbourhoods, with confidence ranging from 55 per cent in Redbridge Central to 78 in Harrow Central.

Grouping neighbourhoods in this way makes it easier to see clearly which are alike.

It is hoped that police leaders from low-confidence neighbourhoods can borrow ideas on how to improve engagement.

Mr Greenhalgh said: “The Mayor and I have been clear - cutting crime is not enough, we need to see a boost in Londoners' confidence. “Right now in Hillingdon, confidence has exceeded our target of 75 per cent.

“We hope these tools will be used by local police leaders in similar neighbourhoods with lower levels of confidence, who will look to Hillingdon for lessons on how to improve.”

To view the Confidence Dashboard visit https://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/policing-crime/data-information/confidence-dashboard

To view the Neighbourhood Confidence Comparator visit http://www.london.gov.uk/confidence-comparator