A POLICE chief has promised his force will not rest on its laurels after receiving a high rating in a performance league table.
Durham police came second in a survey of all police forces in England and Wales published yesterday, with neighbours Northumbria only three places behind in fifth.
Only the Suffolk force in mainly rural East Anglia scored higher than Durham Constabulary in the survey, carried out by the Observer newspaper.
It was based on detection rates, response times to serious crime, speed of answering 999 calls, complaints from the public and absenteeism.
Durham's Chief Constable, George Hedges, last night welcomed the news, although he was guarded over the survey's accuracy.
He described it as, "a snapshot, rather than giving the whole picture".
It comes just weeks after the force received a commendation from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. The inspectors found no area of the force's performance in need of urgent overhaul.
Mr Hedges said: "We are delighted this unofficial league table places us so highly, but we are not complacent. There are always things we can improve upon."
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