Find out how Kent Police used science and technology to cut down wait times.
Calls to the police have been increasing in volume and complexity - presenting a challenge for forces to keep up with the demand, respond to calls, and investigate crimes effectively. Non-urgent domestic abuse calls have been an area of particular concern, with around 3,100 such calls being received across England and Wales on an average day.
To solve this problem, Kent Police worked with the Cambridge Centre for Evidence Based Policing to create a new way to help victims quickly. Running a trial among 517 domestic abuse victims, they introduced Rapid Video Response (RVR). With RVR, when a victim called the police and there was no immediate threat, the police could offer a video call with a specially trained officer. The officer could talk to the victim, check on their safety, and give advice right away, using a secure video link sent to the victim.
The new video response made a substantial difference. Victims who used RVR got help in around 3 minutes compared to normal response time of around 33 hours. Satisfaction with police response that used RVR was 11% higher compared to those who waited for a standard in-person visit. Police officers also saved time, so they could help more people. What's more, there were 50% more arrests during the life of an RVR investigation, compared to the traditional response group.
As a result of this trial, RVR was rolled out across 7 police forces in the eastern region, with the Kent Police team also briefing India, France, Canada, Australia and the US on the potential benefits of using the technology. The success of RVR showed how science and technology can make a real difference in people's lives, helping victims feel safer and making police work more effective.
Source: Office of the Police Chief Scientific Adviser
