Despite a number of initiatives to counter perceptions of the police in Hillingdon , confidence in the borough's force has fallen to the lowest in London, a new survey has revealed.

According to the most recent Public Attitude Survey, 56% of those questioned think the police in the borough are doing a good job – down from 58% in the previous survey, meaning Hillingdon has the lowest level of confidence in London.

But despite these worrying figures, satisfaction levels – which relates to people who have used a police service - are at 80%.

Getwestlondon asked Temporary Chief Inspector, Rob Bryan, his thoughts on these results, and why there is such a disparity between confidence and satisfaction in Hillingdon.

poll loading

Are Hillingdon Police doing a good job?

'I always think we can do better'

T/Ch Insp Bryan told getwestlondon : “Our satisfaction surveys focus on those people who have come into contact with police, they have needed our services.

“80% satisfaction is high, but I always think we can do better.

“The confidence measure is not so easy to take hold of as it asks for people's perceptions of local policing.

“Those people maybe have never had need of us or come into contact with us.

“Trying to reconcile the two and finding ways to convince Hillingdon residents we are working hard on their behalf is no easy task.”

Hillingdon Police HQ in Hillingdon

Hammersmith has highest confidence

The average level of confidence for officers across the Metropolitan Police is 69%, while the borough with the highest level of confidence is Hammersmith with 82%.

Hillingdon Police has taken a number of steps in the borough to try and improve its visibility in the borough and to inform residents of its work in a push to improve confidence.

These changes included reducing the number of Hillingdon Police Twitter accounts from 22 down to six, reminding officers to engage with members of the public, and focusing on crimes people are concerned about like driving offences.

Police forces across London will also see an increase in the number of dedicated Police Constables in each ward by December 2017, meaning each ward has two dedicated PCs and one Police Community Support Officer (PCSO).

Hillingdon Police however vowed to implement this increase sooner, with the extra PC in place across the borough by the end of November 2016, more than a year ahead of schedule.

The Met Police's average confidence level is 69%

'Officers need to interact with the community'

T/Ch Insp Bryan added: “Police officers need to lift their gaze and interact with the community.

“My officers have been reminded of the need to make eye contact and say hello. They are now regularly tweeting their locations when out and about so those on social media can see what they are up to.

“To make us even more visible, we are focusing our work on issues that matter to the local community.

“Roads used by speedsters or those who just can't put their phones down when driving have been targeted by us in highly visible operations which we have also publicised afterwards.

“This is all about making you aware that we are out there, even if we don't happen to walk past your kitchen window at the very moment you look out.”

T/Ch Insp Bryan also outlines three pleas to residents of Hillingdon to help with policing confidence.

Confidence is low in Hillingdon

1.Don't believe everything you read on social media

“Just because someone has posted something “juicy” doesn't make it real."

2. Be reasonable with your expectations

“If you live in a low crime area you will not see a cop on every street corner. We need to police intelligently and target the villains, not walk aimlessly down your road."

3. Let us know if you have a problem

“Don't keep it to yourself then feel aggrieved if nothing gets done about it.”

Keep up to date with the latest news in west London via the free getwestlondon app.

You can even set it to receive push notifications for all the breaking news in your area.

Available to download from the App Store or Google Play for Android now!