An update on burglary and Operation Safer Homes

Report: 10
Date: 13 March 2003
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report provides an update on burglary performance within the MPS over the first ten months of 2002/3. The report then focuses specifically upon the introduction of Operation Safer Homes, detailing its impact on the 13 nominated boroughs and on other non-Safer Homes boroughs.

A. Recommendation

That the report be noted.

B. Supporting information

1. The MPS targets for 2002/3 in burglary are to reduce the number of offences by 1% and to achieve a judicial disposal (JD) rate of 11%. Consequently, Operation Safer Homes (OSH) has been implemented as the Metropolitan Police Service’s operational response to reducing and detecting offences of burglary.

2. OSH was formally launched on 28th October 2002, with the priority OSH boroughs being: Barnet, Bromley, Croydon, Enfield, Greenwich, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Lewisham, Redbridge, Southwark, Waltham Forest and Wandsworth.

3. Following the success of Operation Safer Streets in relation to street crime, a similar approach was adopted across the boroughs for burglary. This effectively means that the deployment of pan-London resources was extended to combat burglary, whilst sustaining the MPS’s commitment to Operation Safer Streets.

4. All BOCUs were sent a template to complete summarising their plan to combat burglary; underlining the fact that ownership of this challenge is MPS wide. However, as already stated only a specific number of BOCUs were designated as OSH BOCUs. These nominated boroughs were chosen following consideration of their volume contribution to the total number of burglaries committed in the MPS and the percentage change in offences for the performance year to date compared to the corresponding months in 2001/2.

MPS burglary performance

5. Examining burglary levels within the MPS overall, between April 02 and January 03 the number of burglary offences has reduced by 0.7% on the corresponding months in 2001/2, with the 2002/3 1% reduction target now clearly achievable. This reduction comprises a 1.0% decrease in residential burglary offences and a 0.2% decrease in non-residential offences. Furthermore, the total burglary JD rate of 12.2% for April 02 to January 03 is also well above the MPS JD target set.

6. The chart below details the month-by-month trends in burglary offences and burglary JD rates, with the number of offences required in February and March 2003 for a 1% reduction also illustrated.

Graph 1: MPS burglary offences and Judicial Disposal rates - April 2000 to January 2003 (see supporting material)

7. As can be seen from the chart above, a great deal of seasonality exists in the levels of burglaries recorded, with numbers of offences traditionally peaking in the winter months and than falling between July and September. Therefore, whilst the increases in offences in November 02 and more recently January 03 can be attributed to such seasonal trends, these rises have been lower than those seen in previous years. Furthermore, it would be expected that the number of burglaries recorded would fall further in February 03.

8. Examining burglary JD rates on a month-by-month basis indicates that during 2002/3 so far, the MPS JD rate has been changeable, with the rates varying between 10.0% in June 02 and 14.6% in August 02. Although there has been a reduction in JD rates since August 02, these rates are still higher than those experienced during the corresponding months in both 2000 and 2001. Furthermore, the actual number of JDs recorded during April 02 to January 03 is 25% higher than achieved during the same months in 2001/2 (11725 compared to 9369).

Borough Performance

9. The table shown in Appendix 1 illustrates individual boroughs performance against their bespoke burglary reduction and JD rate targets for the planning year to date (April 02 to January 03). Further performance information for specific safer homes boroughs will be examined within the safer homes section of this report.

10. As can be seen from Appendix 1, twelve boroughs (including one safer homes boroughs, Hillingdon) are currently achieving their bespoke burglary reduction target, although in addition Brent and Richmond upon Thames are attaining the corporate MPS target.

11. During 2002/3 so far, boroughs producing the greatest reductions in burglary offences appear to be situated in South London. Specifically, Sutton are achieving the greatest decrease in offences during the period April 02 to January 03 when compared to the corresponding months in 2001/2 with a 20.9% reduction, followed by Lambeth (–18.5%) and Kingston upon Thames (-13.3%). In contrast, the inner London boroughs of Hackney (+12.0%), Hammersmith and Fulham (+10.6%) and Lewisham (+9.7%) are each recording the largest increases in burglaries for this same period.

12. In the chart below, each borough is ranked according to its volume contribution to the total number of burglaries in the MPS between April and January 2002/3. It can be seen that 80% of the total number of burglaries have been committed on around two-thirds of the boroughs, with Camden, Lambeth and Westminster contributing the greatest amount. Most notably however, Lambeth whom recorded the 2nd largest number of burglary offences during 2002/3 so far, have also achieved the 2nd greatest reduction in burglaries during this same period.

Graph 2: Burglary offences % contribution to MPS total for April to January 2002/03 (see supporting material)

13. A further breakdown of burglary offences by borough allowing a visual comparison of performance achieved between April 02 and January 03 is attached within Appendix 2 (in the form of a boston box).

14. Investigating MPS burglary JD rates indicates that currently eighteen boroughs (of which six are safer homes boroughs) are attaining their bespoke JD rate target for 2002/3, although in addition four others (Barnet, Kensington and Chelsea, Lewisham and Tower Hamlets) are achieving the corporate MPS target of 11%.

15. Specifically, Islington (20.1% JDs), Enfield and Richmond upon Thames (both 18.0% JDs) are achieving the highest burglary JD rates in the MPS for the planning year to date (April 02 to January 03).

Performance in Safer Homes boroughs

16. When examining designated OSH boroughs specifically, between April 02 and January 03 the number of burglary offences recorded in these boroughs has increased by 4.7%. Significantly however, in the three months since the introduction of the operation, the number of offences recorded in OSH boroughs has reduced by 5.2% (specifically for the period Nov 02 – Jan 03 when compared to Nov 01 – Jan 02).

17. The chart included within Appendix 3 illustrates the number of offences recorded weekly in safer homes boroughs for the period the week ending 10/04/02 to the week ending 05/02/03. In the fifteen weeks since the introduction of the operation, with the exception of four weeks, the number of burglaries committed has been lower than the levels recorded during the same weeks in 2001/2.

18. Examining the JD rates of OSH boroughs, between April 02 and January 03 this rate was 12.3%, higher than the 2002/3 MPS JD rate target set. Furthermore, the actual number of JDs recorded has shown an even greater improvement on their 2001/2 figures than for the MPS overall. Specifically, the actual number of JDs recorded in safer homes boroughs between April 02 and January 03 increased by 29.7% against the total recorded during the same months in 2001/2 (5061 compared to 3903).

19. As previously stated, between April 02 and January 03, Hillingdon was the only OSH borough to achieve their 2002/3 bespoke burglary offences target. However, for the period Nov 02 to Jan 03 since the start of OSH, nine safer homes boroughs have reached their bespoke target. Furthermore, the year to date increase recorded in OSH boroughs is reducing each month. Specifically between April 02 to October 02, OSH boroughs witnessed a total 9.7% increase in burglaries, whilst as previously stated this increase has now reduced to just +4.7% for the period April to January 2002/3 when compared to the corresponding months in 2001/2.

20. Six safer homes boroughs are now achieving their 2002/3 bespoke JD rate targets, with Enfield (18.0%) and Wandsworth (16.2%) achieving the highest judicial disposal rate between April 02 and January 03 of all safer homes boroughs.

Displacement effects of Operation Safer Homes

21. Appendix 4 investigates the impact of OSH on non-safer homes boroughs and possible displacement effects on these boroughs. Specifically, the map presented illustrates the percentage change in burglary offences for the three months since the start of OSH compared to the three months before (i.e. Nov 02-Jan 03 compared to Aug 02- Oct 02).

22. It can be seen that the non-safer homes boroughs of Bexley and Ealing, which are bordered with OSH boroughs, have experienced a significant increase in offences. In particular, Bexley which south of the river is surrounded by Greenwich and Bromley and also situated in close proximity to other OSH boroughs has witnessed a 28.5% increase in offences for Nov 02-Jan 03 when compared to the three months prior to this. Furthermore, Ealing, which is surrounded by the outer-London OSH boroughs of Harrow, Hillingdon and Hounslow, has recorded a 21.6% increase for this same period.

23. At present OSH specifically, does not appear to be causing any significant increases in other priority crimes. In particular, offences such as autocrime and street crime have followed a general downward trend since October 02, with the exception of the seasonal rise seen in January each year.

Implementation of Operation Safer Homes

24. Territorial Policing implements the control strategy for OSH, taking the structure and good practice developed for Operation Safer Streets as its template. In essence, the two operations are controlled in parallel, and the boroughs are termed collectively as priority boroughs. Performance of all MPS boroughs is monitored by way of a weekly report, and this gives the facility of including or releasing boroughs from the priority group. As an example, Hammersmith and Fulham have recently been included in the group.

25. The control strategy takes the form of a Gold Strategy Group (monthly) and a tactical meeting (initially bi-weekly, now monthly). In order to facilitate the communication within the MPS as a whole, the control strategy has now evolved to include all BOCU commanders at the Gold Group meeting and all crime managers at the tactical meeting rather than solely those representing the priority boroughs. In addition TSG, BTP, Transport and Traffic OCU are included in these meetings. This ensures complete dissemination of best practice, and is seen as one of the major success factors in the delivery and success of both Safer Homes and Safer Streets.

26. Territorial Policing co-ordinates pan-London resources, focussing on the objectives of both OSS and OSH. These resources are allocated to the boroughs through the tactical meeting, and are concentrated to the priority boroughs. In addition, all boroughs have the facility to bid for financial support from the Territorial Policing Contingency Fund for use in local and cross border proactive operations.

27. A strategy document has been produced to detail the control strategy and how it is delivered. The plan also includes a number of tactics to be run under the leadership of Territorial Policing, and a menu of tactics for use by boroughs.

Other initiatives

Activity to support the launch of Operation Safer Homes

28. Activity to tackle burglary was undertaken in advance of the launch of the operation. This included the dissemination to all boroughs of performance in relation to forensic identifications and outstanding or wanted suspects for offences of burglary. Boroughs were asked to concentrate efforts on these areas in anticipation of the formal launch of the operation. It is difficult to quantify the results of this, although a general downward trend did commence.

29. Immediately prior to the launch, all MPS boroughs were requested to carry out sustained and high profile activity from the 25th through to the 27th of October, specifically targeting burglary and related crime. A total of 445 borough operations took place involving 1103 officers. This activity resulted in 369 arrests in total, 237 of which were for burglary and handling stolen goods. Of the arrests, 163 individuals were charged and over 260 judicial disposals obtained. Further investigations were still taking place at the time of results collection. A substantial amount of stolen property was recovered and in some boroughs significant seizures of Crack Cocaine and other controlled drugs were made. The value of stolen property seized was estimated to be half a million pounds. The street value of drugs seized was estimated at over £100,000.

Crimestoppers

30. Crimestoppers have been at the forefront of the advertising campaign to support Operation Safer Homes. All actionable information received via Crimestoppers in relation to cross-border priority crime is disseminated to Territorial Policing. In relation to burglary, seven operations have been conducted as the result of information. Four are ongoing, and three have resulted in arrests, one for a number of aggravated burglaries.

Operation Evader

31. Operation Evader was an MPS-wide covert operation targeting persons wanted for arrest or failure to appear at court with the arrest phase ending on 6th December 2002. Priority crime was again focussed on, alongside other serious crime. In total 139 persons were arrested, with other arrests anticipated following intelligence obtained during the operation. Notably, these arrests included 20 for burglary, 4 for handling stolen goods and 10 for robbery.

Artifice/Aggravated Burglary

32. Territorial Policing Crime Squad is a proactive unit with part of its remit to target suspects for artifice and aggravated burglary, as well as serial offenders for burglary and robbery offences beyond the capability of boroughs. In the financial year to date, they have conducted 11 operations against aggravated burglars, resulting in 38 arrests and 147 judicial disposals. Property to the value of £8 million has been recovered. Additionally 16 operations against artifice burglars have been conducted resulting in 16 arrests and 739 judicial disposals. £570,000 worth of property has been recovered. One such operation involved the suspect Martin Maloney who admitted carrying out 429 burglaries in London and a further 159 offences throughout the south of England. Police suspect that Maloney was responsible for approximately 10% of this type of burglary across the MPS.

Mobile phone burglaries

33. Initial analysis undertaken by Leicestershire Constabulary reveals that commercial premises have been actively targeted for organised burglary of mobile phones. It is estimated that since 2000, 500 such offences have occurred nationwide, resulting in an estimated £7.5million worth of mobile phones being stolen. Around a third of these offences have occurred within the MPS. With this in mind, in order to combat the problem Territorial Policing Crime Squad have undertaken to conduct pro-activity in this area.

Sustainability

34. In order for the MPS to sustain success the following issues have been identified as crucial to OSH:

• Forensic identification
• Crime Prevention and Partnership initiatives
• Pan London support
• Funding
• Review and Inspection process
• Crimestoppers
• Role of TP Crime Squad and Tactical Intelligence Unit
• Fast time video identifications
• Curfews and Warrants

Summary

35. This paper summarises a number of initiatives to tackle burglary, with the achieved year to date 0.7% reduction in offences now making the 2002/3 target clearly achievable. OSH has now been fully implemented with most designated safer homes boroughs since beginning to reverse their performance in burglary and witness reductions in levels of offences and JDs recorded. Nevertheless, in the future it will be necessary to inspect burglary levels and tactics in these boroughs and in particular to fully monitor the operations long term sustainability and impact.

C. Equality and diversity implications

The MPS is aware that it needs to consider suspect and offender profiles for burglary offences, for example to consider whether the ethnic breakdown of persons arrested has changed with an increased emphasis on burglary offences.

D. Financial implications

OSH has been funded using existing Territorial Policing contingency funds. £1m has been allocated to support boroughs, although it is anticipated that this amount will not have been fully spent by the end of the FY 2002/2003. This funding has enabled boroughs to use its resources and other support services more effectively by targeting specific ‘ Hotspots’ and individuals.

E. Background papers

Burglary and Operation Safer Homes: PPRC 09 January 2003, by Laura Parry and DI Jessica Jones, TP Crime.

F. Contact details

Report author: Laura Parry, Corporate Performance and Analysis Unit and DI Howard Groves, TP Crime, MPS.

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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