Update on progress of professional standards support programme (family group 2)

Report: 10
Date: 17 January 2008
By: Assistant Commissioner Operational Services on behalf of the Commissioner

Summary

This report sets out the progress made by the Professional Standards Support Programme (PSSP) – one year on.

A. Recommendations

That Members note the progress made in respect of the PSSP since the launch in November 2006.

B. Supporting information

1. The Deputy Commissioner at New Scotland Yard officially launched the Professional Standards Support Programme (PSSP) in November 2006. The event and aspirations of the PSSP were supported by senior representatives from both the MPA and the IPCC.

2. The Professional Standards Support Programme delivers Professional Standards messages to personnel engaged in regular contact with the London public. The programme is a significant part of the Directorate of Professional Standards’ strategic ambition to place prevention at the core of our business activity.

3. A significant success for the PSSP has been the continued and constructive engagement with the Police Federation and Trade Union side (TUS). DPS staff meet with representatives of both groups prior to delivering presentations. This has done much to allay any sense of mistrust that may have existed concerning DPS activity on borough sites.

4. To inform the PSSP delivery process, the DPS Performance Analysis Unit (PAU) review a number of sources. The information collated is put before a tasking meeting in order that DPS resources can be directed to areas of potentially greater need.

5. The tasking process has evolved considerably over the past year. Where a BOCU is identified as potentially benefiting from more detailed analysis, an in depth report is commissioned. The content of the commissioned report is personally discussed with the Borough Command Team with copies subsequently supplied to the MPA link member and MPS Area Commander. The response to the report has generally been positive and in the case of one borough a full action plan is in preparation to address the issues raised.

6. The PSSP offers the following products from a menu of options:

• Information leakage and computer misuse
• Accident claims
• Civil actions
• Local management of public complaints and misconduct
• Complaints Intervention Scheme overview
• Preventing Deaths in Custody.

7. An initial approach to each BOCU Commander is made by the report author prior to DPS delivering PSSP. During the year, meetings with thirty of the thirty-two Borough Command teams have taken place. The two boroughs where no meeting could be arranged within the timescale set did receive input from the programme.

8. Delivery across B/OCUs has differed significantly. Primarily this was due to local training opportunities. PSSP is offered to boroughs in addition to mandatory training. Other opportunities for delivery are sought on supervisors or other management meetings. The DPS endeavour to be as creative as possible in seeking opportunities to deliver preventative messages.

8. The tables below show the number of presentations given over the past year.

9. Civil Actions presentations are collated separately. They have not been merged with the table above. Some officers receiving presentations on Civil Actions may also have received input on computer misuse and /or preventing death in custody. Others may not. The number of Civil Action Presentations and attendees are listed below:

10. Accident Claims presentations are also collated separately. They have not been merged with the tables above. Some officers receiving presentations on Accident Claims may also have received input on other topics. Others may not. The Accident Claims presentation delivers a basic awareness on best practice issues for Forced Entries and Property claims. In addition, they also advise on Insurance and Indemnities. The numbers of Accident Claims presentation participants are listed below:

11. In more general terms, as well as the preventative message delivered, PSSP engagement has checked the existing relationships between the relevant DPS BSU and the individual SPOCS. The building of strong relationships between DPS and local SPOCS is a key area of work in preparation for the implementation of the Taylor reforms.

12. As a direct result of the PSSP, DPS identified that a number of officers and staff were failing to disclose that they were recipients of Fixed Penalty Notices. Working through the Professional Standards Strategic Group subsequently a Police Notice reminding staff of their responsibilities and detailing a non-punitive approach to ensure compliance with the requirement was issued. This issue could have had potentially serious consequences for holders of MPS driving permits.

13. All attendees at DPS presentations are asked to complete a written feedback questionnaire. Returned feedback indicates that attendees are either satisfied or very satisfied with the inputs.

14. Within DPS, the PSSP is achieving consistent admiration gaining considerable currency as DPS personnel see learning being shared with the wider organization. Intelligence and closing reports increasingly refer to benefits attributed PSSP input.

15. DPS are working with other business groups and interested parties to spread prevention messages through the organisation. This year, DPS ran four “Preventing Death in Custody” seminars at New Scotland Yard. These were well attended by custody practitioners, Independent Custody Visitors, IPCC personnel and representatives from other forces across the country. A one-day master class on “Necessary Force – Issues around the most contentious Police death” Conference attracted a broad audience, including coroners, IPCC investigators and MPS personnel. Conferences planned for next year include joint seminars with the Directorate of Information on Information Use & Misuse, a joint initiative with the MPS driving school on preventing police collisions and a further conference on the use of force involving academics of international reputation. All these pieces of work feed into the development of the PSSP programme delivered locally to officers and staff.

16. In line with the DPS strategic Control Strategy Priorities 2007-08, a presentation around “Off Duty Behaviour Personal Responsibility” has been developed. This presentation draws heavily on the personal experience of officers involved in off duty incidents and spells out the impact on their career, family, friends, colleagues and personal finances.

17. The Accident Claims programme for the coming year will produce more in-depth analysis of individual Boroughs claims statistics and work more closely with key figures within the Borough (i.e. Safer Driving Rep and SMTs) to enable the Boroughs to work towards a reduction in claims by introducing best practice measures.

18. The PSSP will be used as an additional means of informing personnel about the changes to police misconduct regulations resulting from the Taylor reforms.

C. Race and equality impact

As part of the Fundamental Review of the Directorate of Professional Standards, extensive consultation and engagement with key stakeholders was undertaken. In respect of the PSSP, the DPS Diversity Co-coordinator has reviewed all presentations.

D. Financial implications

All costs for the PSSP are to be met from within the DPS financial budget for 2007/08.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author(s):  Superintendent Paul McGregor, MPS

For more information contact:

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

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback