Independent Custody Visiting Scheme

Report: 8
Date: 29 October 2009
By: Chief Executive

Summary

This report details developments in relation to the Independent Custody Visiting Scheme (ICV) since the last report in April 2009.

A. Recommendations

That members

1. note developments
2. note that the MPA restructure and reduction of resources to the ICV team will have an impact on how the scheme functions from 2010
3. agree that the ICV Scheme reports to the Strategic and Operational Policing Committee (SOP) from January 2010, in line with the repositioning of the ICV team within the Policing Policy, Scrutiny and Oversight Unit

B. Supporting information

Context

1. This report aims to provide Members with a brief update on the report presented in April 2009 and a forward view of how the MPA restructure may impact the scheme.

2. Members will be aware that the ICV team has been significantly impacted by the MPA restructure. Staffing has been reduced by over 30%, from nine to six team members. As part of the restructure, the ICV Scheme Manager post has been deleted and a new post of Criminal Justice and Custody Oversight Team Leader has been created, which will have responsibility for the ICV Scheme. These changes will necessarily have a significant impact on how the scheme is delivered and managed in the future.

3. Members should note that confirmation of the final structure was only received on 30th Sept, and it has not been possible to develop a new structure for the scheme within the reporting timeframe available. As a result the report will not contain details of changes envisaged.

Key performance indicators

4. The performance of the scheme as a whole is dependent on the performance of the 32 individual panels which it encompasses. Key performance measures include identifying the number of visits taking place against set objectives, how effectively issues arising out of visits are addressed, how effectively the panel communicates with the local community about the scheme and how effectively the MPA recruits to the scheme (in order to be able to fulfil the scheme objectives).

Panel performance

5. In the period from April-Oct 09, it would appear that the majority of panels have again met, or come very close to meeting their performance target. However the ongoing postal service disruption has impacted on our ability to accurately calculate performance as we have been experiencing delays of several weeks in visit report forms being received. Performance in relation to visiting targets for the scheme as a whole currently stands at 92%.

6. Since April only a very small number panels have given us cause for concern in terms of their performance. This has been because individuals have failed to undertake their scheduled visits and not informed the MPA, rather than a result of a shortage of volunteers. This can be difficult to manage, particularly where the Chair is reluctant to emphasis the importance of performance with the panel. However by continuing to keep visit performance on the panel’s agenda ICV Coordinators ensure that this is addressed with ICVs both individually and collectively.

Issues and concerns arising from visits

7. Across the scheme as a whole for this period, no complaints were raised by detainees during the majority of ICV visits. Where issues were raised, the vast majority were of a minor nature, such as requests for food or drink. This is a very positive outcome for the scheme. A chart showing statistics for the scheme from June to August, including issues raised can be found at Appendix A. Unfortunately it has not been possible to provide figures for the full period of this report as a new visits database was introduced in June as it has not been possible to migrate earlier data. Additionally September has not been included due to ongoing problems with receiving post as a result of industrial action, which has had a knock on impact on data entry.

Community Confidence

8. The first pan-London annual report was produced in June and was distributed to panels and key stakeholders. It has also been placed on the MPA website. This report provides information on the scheme as a whole as well as a brief synopsis of activity in each of the 32 boroughs.

9. Links between panels and CPEGs have been actively encouraged and are developing in most boroughs, with 24 panels actively plugged in to their CPEG and 19 panels currently presenting their annual report to the CPEG. Work will continue to encourage panels to develop and maintain these relationships. It is our aim to see relationships established between ICV panels and CPEGs in all 32 boroughs.

Recruitment

10. Recruitment has been ongoing but continues to be less of a priority, as membership has stabilised. There are currently there are 438 ICVs in London. In addition there are a further 34 applicants awaiting interview and 26 going through vetting.

11. Almost all panels currently have the requisite number of ICVs to meet their visiting requirements and it has been necessary to operate waiting lists for some panels. There is only one panel where intensive recruitment is an ongoing need and this is being successfully addressed. Further information on recruitment by borough can also be seen at Appendix A.

Scheme objectives

Raising awareness

12. The ICV London Facebook page was launched on the 4 June, to coincide with Volunteers Week. The page allows us to reach a wide and diverse audience and is particularly helpful in raising awareness amongst younger people, whom we have identified as under-represented within the scheme and are therefore a target audience. To date the page almost 150 fans and can be viewed by typing ‘icvlondon’ in to the search facility within Facebook. New information is posted to the page on a regular basis and the page can also be used to promote wider MPA initiatives, such as the consultation on policing priorities.

13. Also to coincide with Volunteers Week, our radio ad was aired on 5 local radio stations during the first week of June. In addition, Nusound radio, which broadcasts in East London and has an estimated 2000 listeners per show, featured a ten minute live interview with a member of the ICV team who was able to explain and promote the scheme on air, as well thanking our volunteers for their time and commitment. The interview is available on the MPA website and has been linked to our Facebook page.

14. Volunteers Week activities culminated in an ICV social evening and awards ceremony, hosted by MPA Deputy Chair Kit Malthouse was held on the 4 June at City Hall. Approximately 120 ICVs attended and awards were presented for long service, as well as assistance to other panels, best performance and most improvement during the year. Individuals who had helped out other panels during the year also received a special mention.

15. The MPA community engagement conference “Policing with Authority” on the 27 June included a workshop on independent custody visiting, which aimed to increase community confidence in (custody) policing by raising awareness of the ICV scheme.

Training

16. Three initial ICV training courses were delivered between April and October. A further 6 modules of refresher training have been developed by the ICV team to meet ICVs’ identified ongoing learning needs. We now have 13 modules which can be delivered ‘in panel’ as short, stand alone exercises, or can be used together to deliver a longer ‘refresher training evening’.

17. The Chairs training course was further revised over the summer and a more modular approach has been adopted which means that it can now be tailored for new/prospective or experienced Chairs. Recent staff losses and the impact of the restructure on the team have meant that the course which we had intended to deliver in the autumn has had to be postponed. We now hope to be able to offer a course during the first half of 2010.

18. Work has continued with Met colleagues to adapt the content of the diversity training for non-Chairs with the intention of delivering a rolling programme of diversity training from this year. Our objective was to make diversity training integral to the scheme. We had aimed to provide all existing ICVs with this training within five years, however this will now need to be reviewed and scaled down in light of staffing and budget reductions. A third diversity training course for ICVs is planned for November.

Communication

19. Panel Chairs and Vice Chairs are invited to meetings with the MPA twice a year. The last meeting took place at the end of April and Chairs listened to a talk on mental health and detention, with particular reference to the Bradley report. The next meeting has been rescheduled from mid October to early November to allow time for a new structure to be developed for the scheme in light of the restructure. It is hoped that we will be in a position to present this to those attending the meeting. The Chief Executive will be attending to speak to ICV Chairs about the rationale for change.

20. London ICV Scheme newsletters were produced in April, June and August and are available on the MPA website. Members will have received a copy. Newsletters from ICVA, the national custody visiting association were received and disseminated to all ICVs in April and September.

Self Introduction pilot

21. The extended trial started in June and will continue until the end of December 2009, when the full pilot will be evaluated and a decision made about whether to extend it further.

ICV Handbook review

22. Changes to the ICV handbook were made with a view to a new version being produced in the summer of 2009. However it was apparent from the end of July that the restructure might have a significant impact on the contents of the Handbook, so publication had to be put on hold until we were informed of final structure and had the opportunity to access the impact. More work will now need to be undertaken to revise the Handbook in light of the changes to the ICV team and we would hope to be in a position to publish the final version in January 2010.

Anticipated changes to service delivery

23. The restructure and consequent reduction in ICV officers will have an impact on the delivery of the services to volunteers and the ways in which the panels are managed. With such a significant reduction in resource allocation, the focus for the ICV team will be on trying to ensure the authority continues to meet its statutory responsibilities with respect to the ICV scheme.

24. Elements of work which the team have taken forward in terms of developing and adding value to the scheme will need to be reduced and it may not be possible to continue with some initiatives. The team will endeavour to continue to deliver the best possible service to our volunteers, but a reduction in service will be inevitable. Members should be aware that changes to the scheme may impact on volunteer retention and therefore scheme performance.

25. The ICV team will move from the Engagement and Partnership Unit to the Policing Policy, Scrutiny and Oversight Unit, which will signal a change in emphasis for the scheme from community engagement to scrutiny. It is suggested that reporting moves from CECF to SOP in line with this change.

26. With the ICV Scheme Manager post being deleted and a new post of Criminal Justice and Custody Oversight Team Leader being created, the post holder’s focus and portfolio responsibilities will also broaden to encompass criminal justice, which will have an impact on scheme management.

27. A new structure will be developed over the coming weeks and ICVs will be informed of necessary changes during November.

C. Race and equality impact

1. Alternative methods of advertising, such as the radio ad, Facebook and community TV have been utilised. This has meant that the location and method of advertising across London has been broadened, enabling the scheme to reach a wider and more diverse audience.

2. MPA staff attending meetings enables us to ensure that MPA values are disseminated to panels and that equality issues are upheld.

3. To date the involvement of MPA staff in delivering training to ICVs and the provision of diversity awareness training means that we have been able to ensure that equal opportunity policies are adhered to and issues of equality and diversity are consistently addressed as part of training. However the reduction in staffing may have a negative impact to take this work forward.

4. The scheme now monitors diversity centrally, which enables the MPA to strive towards ensuring that the scheme truly reflects the diversity of Londoners – an important element in addressing community confidence. Currently the diversity of the scheme compares favourably with the population of London.

5. Effective information gathering about visiting, made more possible through the development of a more robust visits database should enable the MPA to better identify and address with the MPS issues affecting the treatment of detainees and to secure an improved service.

D. Financial implications

1. As of end September, the ICV Scheme budget showed saving of £19,388 against year to date projections.

2. Indications from the restructure are that the ICV Scheme budget will be cut to circa £300,000 and reduction of 37% on the existing budget for 2009/2010. Some of this reduction represents savings on staff costs, but as no information other than a headline figure has been provided to date, it is not possible to identify further risks to the scheme as a result of budget cuts.

E. Background papers

• Appendix A – Panel recruitment at Sept 09
• Appendix B – Scheme statistics - June 09-Aug 09

F. Contact details

Report author(s): Kerry McClelland, ICV Scheme Manager, MPA

For information contact:

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

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