Incoming chief wants to build on work done to cut robberies

Avon and Somerset's new chief constable plans to get more officersout into the community and away from their desks when he takes overthe top job.

Colin Port, who is currently Deputy Chief Constable of Norfolkpolice, has said his "vision" for the force centres on tacklingcrime using the force's key resource - its officers.

The 50-year-old was speaking for the first time about his newappointment, which will see him take over from Steve Pilkington earlyin the New Year.

It comes after Home Office figures revealed that Avon and Somersetofficers spend nearly 40 per cent of their time on duty at theirdesk, filling in forms and filing reports, at the expense of beingout on the "front line".

Speaking to the Evening Post from Norfolk, he said: "My visionsurrounds involvement within the community to make Avon and Somersetan even safer place.

"People - staff and officers - make things happen, not structuresand processes. And as 86 per cent of the force's budget goes onpeople, then it's an important factor to concentrate on. I will bespending the next three months talking to colleagues to find out thefull picture.

"There has been some good work which has already been done by theforce in this area, and I plan to build on this.

"Any new chief constable, or chief executive of a private companyfor that matter, will look to see if his or her staff are deployed inthe right areas and then make changes, if they're needed."

Mr Port has also promised to continue the work already started inreducing the number of burglaries and robberies in Avon andSomerset.

Despite the fall, the latest Home Office figures show Avon andSomerset is still not performing as well as other similar-sizedforces, and this is another area Mr Port said he was keen to address.

The same survey showed that Avon and Somerset officers only spent62 per cent of their time away from their desks - below the nationalaverage.

He said: "Key to our success will be continued close workingrelationships with our partners in the public, private and voluntarysectors."

He has also said he will take up Mr Pilkington's fight to get morefunds for the force in 2005-2006.

Avon and Somerset Police Authority has said it is facing a budgetshortfall of GBP10.8 million - enough to pay for either 280 communitybeat officers or the force headquarters' CID department, whichinvestigates major crime - as the result of a Whitehall edict thatcouncil tax rises must be minimised next year.

The authority has previously said it needs a minimum 7.7 per centincrease in funding. It fears it will be left with a GBP10.8 millionshortfall if increases were limited to three per cent for its centralgovernment grant and three per cent on its precept to council taxpayers, as has been suggested.

Funding existing services, meeting new statutory and policyresponsibilities including the Government's police reform agenda, payinflation, forensics, IT developments, and a 12 per cent rise inpension costs, mean that police authorities across the UK have saidthey need at least a 5.5 per cent increase from the Home Office.

Mr Port said: "In terms of numbers of police officers and funding,the force is certainly below the national average."

As reported in the Evening Post, Mr Port began his career as aconstable in 1974 with Greater Manchester Police.

He rose through the ranks before moving to Warwickshire police in1989 as detective superintendent, quickly moving up to detectivechief superintendent.

He has also worked for the United Nations in both Yugoslavia andRwanda, and headed the South East Regional Crime Squad before joiningNorfolk police.

Mr Port has already identified key areas to tackle. He said: "Theproblem of anti-social behaviour and organised crime, particularly inBristol, are the two areas which jump out."