National Strategy: Best Value

Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1999 sets out the requirements for Best Value authorities.

Best Value authorities are required to secure continuous improvement in the way in which they exercise their functions, having regard to economy, efficiency and effectiveness.

Best Value is about delivering commitments at the local level to achieve these improvements.(http://www.local-regions.detr.gov.uk/bestvalue/indicators/bvaudit/index.htm

In terms of vehicle crime, the Government has issued statutory guidance (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/ppd/pru/statgde.htm) asking every police authority to set a specific target for reduction. Police authorities are required to publish their target in the Best Value Performance Plan, published prior to the end of March each year.

Any targets must be realistic. This is why, for vehicle crime, the guidance suggests that no police authority needs to set a five year target which proposes more than a 40% reduction in the crime in question.

Equally though, so that all targets are challenging - unless there are good reasons why this should not be the case - each authority is expected to set as a minimum five year targets which propose a 10% reduction in vehicle crime.