Operation Castille (Operation Strongbox update)

Report: 12
Date: 11 October 2001
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report summarises the performance of the Strongbox initiative conducted at Haringey Borough, codename Operation Castille. The initiative ran from 17 April 2001 until 10 June 2001. The report notes the achievements and developments, which have been delivered through this approach to improving performance and tackling volume crime.

A. Recommendation

That members note the report.

B. Supporting information

1. The objective of Operation Castille is to focus resources at targeted problems relating to Haringey borough (and MPS) priorities. This was achieved by creating crime support teams for deployment in Haringey to assist in responding to and reducing high volumes of priority crime. The strategy of the initiative creates the opportunity to develop excellence and best practice that can be disseminated throughout the MPS. “Strongbox” is also measurable with the deployment of resources under an operational plan based on analysis of crime within the borough. Its impact can be assessed on crime levels before, during and after the initiative.

2. Operation Castille adopted all the tactical options identified as best practice from previous initiatives. It also devised and implemented a number of additional tactics to combat volume crime. These options will be highlighted later in this report.

3. Haringey borough senior management team used the concept to confirm the borough amalgamation principles and the appropriateness of its policing style. The current police strength of the borough is 520 officers of which 100 officers were specifically ring fenced for Castille. The borough ensured that Strongbox was not compartmentalised and marketed Castille as an inclusive operation with every member of staff involved. The Central Crime Squad, Territorial Support Group, Traffic Department and the Dog Section also supported the initiative.

4. The communities were very supportive of the initiative. During the planning stage the Borough Critical Incident Monitoring Group were asked to provide community advice and support. Elected representative members of the community and other identified groups such as the Police Consultative Group, Community Safety Executive and Haringey Racial Equality Council received weekly appraisals of the operation and its progress against the objectives.

5. The initiative was directed at MPS priority crime, together with quality of life issues such as begging, street drinkers and prostitution. A specific objective was to develop the expertise of borough staff in terms of intelligence development and analysis (with emphasis on cross border crime), briefing, tasking, proactive operations and reactive investigations.

6. The Borough Intelligence Unit was adequate; however through Strongbox the unit implemented the focus desk concept. This increased performance and ensured all activity was intelligence led and resources were correctly tasked against targeted geographical hotspots or individuals. Through the Borough Tasking and Co-ordination Group, the borough was better able to evaluate the tactics and deployment of its resources.

7. Strongbox tactics

One stop burglary and robbery reporting and investigation teams

Four Q cars (plain-clothes officers in unmarked cars). This tactic was enhanced with the permanent deployment of two dogs and their handlers. This allowed for a more effective response resulting in an increase of arrests both for crime and public order offences.

• Conventional surveillance
• Technical surveillance
• Drugs searches/ arrests
• Raids on crack houses
• Directed operations in crime hotspots.
• Test purchase operations to combat street level drug dealing
• Static and mobile ANPR (automatic number plate reader) operations to combat auto-crime and burglary.
• Forensic analysis of crime scenes
• Dedicated fingerprint/DNA investigation and arrest teams
• Operation Seneca (addressing crime in transport corridors on public transport). Partnership initiative with Arriva and LRT.
• Use of passive drug dogs
• Road checks using ANPR, traffic and borough officers to detect vehicles being used unlawfully or in a dangerous position.
• Video sentries.

Video sentries

8. This was the first Strongbox initiative involving video sentries. Haringey borough has historically used video sentries within the Wood Green area. Approximately 37 stand-alone cameras are installed which run continuously and are managed by a dedicated police team. In the event of a crime being committed within the designated area, the team view the video tapes to identify both the victim and suspects to support an arrest and the presentation of evidence.

9. During this operation, video sentries played a pivotal role in a difficult investigation into a linked series of 30 robberies committed by a team of 15 juveniles. A proactive surveillance operation was not an option given their erratic and opportunist offending behaviour. The majority of the evidence emanated from the video sentries, resulting in a charge of conspiracy. Although an effective tool, the scheduling and viewing of the evidence by a significant dedicated investigation team took three weeks. It is recommended that a dedicated unit, responsible for the management and investigation of the offences disclosed, must support video sentries.

Trident

10. During the activity phase twelve Trident related shooting/incidents occurred. As a consequence the risk assessment of the borough was identified as “high”. The policing of the shootings impacted on both the uniform response teams and Castille resources.

Passive drugs dogs

11. This tactic was highly successful and was used within the area of Seven Sisters underground station. The initiative involved both uniform and plain-clothes officers together with a drug dog. The dog randomly wandered amongst the travellers leaving the station. The dog is able to detect the residue of both class A and B drugs. Once detected the dog reacted by sitting next to the person. Officers engaged the person and asked a series of questions.

13. The evaluation of this tactic and the questionnaire, identified that all the persons stopped had within the previous 48 hours come into contact with a person who had taken drugs or had themselves taken drugs or at the time of being stopped were found in possession.

Performance

14. Castille performance was measured against the exact same period last year 14 April to 10 June. Burglary showed an increase of 1.2%; however a 5.9% reduction in street crime was achieved.

April 17 2001 to June 11 2001 compared against April 17 2000 to June 11 2000

Source: PIB monthly figures

15. The next chart compares performance against burglary and street crime within the PIB period of measurement.

April-June 2001 compared against April-June 2000

16. The figures must be compared against MPS performance. Haringey showed a street crime increase of 5%; however this must be offset against an MPS increase of 23%.

17. A total of 1929 arrests were made during the eight-week period.

• Arrests for robbery = 121
• Arrests for burglary = 115
• Arrests for drugs = 217
• Arrests for auto-crime = 224

18. Other statistics

Drugs

• 22 judicial disposals achieved for drug supply Class A & B.
• 193 judicial disposals achieved for possession Class A & B

Drug seizures

• 120 rocks of crack cocaine
• 24 Kg of cannabis
• 3 Kg heroin
• 1065 ecstasy tablets

Burglary

• Classified crime compared to the exact period to last year 1.2% increase.
• Judicial disposal rate 9%.

Street crime

• Classified crime compared to the exact period to last year 6% reduction.
• Judicial disposal rate 15.5%.
• Classified crime in the Wood Green area 16% reduction.

Handling stolen goods

• 12 premises and/or criminals targeted.
• 46 arrests
• £300,000 stolen property recovered.

Stop and Search

• Total of 1846 leading to 338 arrests, which equates to an 18.3% arrest rate.

Ethnic appearance breakdown of stops

Passive drugs dog operations

• 37 arrests

Vehicle check operations

• 34 arrests
• 4 burglars with stolen property
• 220 traffic prosecutions
• £50,000 goods seized
• £5,000 outstanding fines recovered.

Trident

• 1 suspect arrested for murder
• 4 suspects arrested for firearms offences
• Firearms recovered

Anti-prostitution operation

• 22 Arrests

High profile reassurance/disruption operations

• 7 Road checks (including ANPR)
• 9 Seneca operations with Arriva and LRT
• 32 Press articles published
• 13 mentions/interviews on radio and television.

Forensics

• 30% increase in forensic scene retrievals compared to last year.

Learning outcomes

19. The importance of better intelligence assessment as well as looking into issues deeper and broader is required. The operation provided evidence of links between known criminals that should be exploited.

20. Video sentries linked to better analysis and intelligence tasking can provide significant opportunities against street criminals. Young criminals in Haringey are strongly linked and there is a need to develop initiatives accordingly. This is rather than focus on a single specific crime investigation only. Gang culture has increased in the area.

21. Levels of drug use in the community is wide spreed and is increasing.

22. Some of the inhibitors in Haringey that took place during this operation included:

• Providing aid for public order events (May day)
• Spurs Football
• Trident activity
• Election
• Terrorism

Successes

• Staff pleased with the crime and disorder focus of the operation.
• Reputation of the borough enhanced
• Team building for managers and other staff in Haringey
• Confirmed appropriateness of Haringey policing style.
• Confirmed the borough’s amalgamation principles.
• Learning opportunities for staff employed on the operation i.e. preparation and case management, interview techniques, proactive and reactive policing.
• Enhanced the structure and performance of the BIU.
• Q Cars and uniform Police Support Team (PSU).

Conclusions

23. This Strongbox initiative was an extremely challenging and an exciting operation. The senior management team was dynamic, innovative, highly committed and exhibited tremendous leadership. More importantly all Haringey staff, both police and civilian members were committed to making this initiative a success by engaging criminality and reducing the fear of crime. Although a team effort the credit for this initiative rests with the Borough Commander Stephen James.

C. Financial implications

Costings have yet to be ratified, however the project spend is within the £350,000 allocated.

D. Background papers

None

E. Contact details

Report author: Detective Supt. Richard Quinn, Territorial Policing Crime Support OCU 020 8246 0013

For information contact:

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

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