Update on MPS health and safety performance

Report: 5
Date: 08 April 2005
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report updates the Metropolitan Police Authority with respect to the MPS’s Health and Safety performance.

A. Recommendation

That members note the report.

B. Supporting information

1. The following is a summary trend analysis of accidents reported to the MPS Health and Safety branch over the period of existence of the MetAir accident reporting system, January 2003- January 2005:

2. The total number of reports and reportable injuries has remained fairly constant overall. There is, however, a marked downward trend in major injuries. A graph showing this trend is attached at Appendix 1.

3. At the time of writing, the MPS is currently on course to achieve its 5% reduction target of major accidents in 2004/5.

4. Monthly fluctuations at individual (B)OCU level are primarily the result of single events involving multiple injuries, often following assault by suspects and traffic related accidents.

5. An initial analysis shows that the three main causes of injuries follow assault by suspects, traffic related accidents and slips/trips/falls.

6. Further analysis indicates that assaults by suspects account for just under a third of all reports on MetAir (approximately 2000 reports a year). A graph showing the total number of assault reports from January 2003 - January 2005 is attached at Appendix 2. This should not be confused with the data from the Crime Reporting Information System (CRIS) as this captures all incidents, not just where 'harm' has occurred. The CRIS data set will indicate higher returns.

7. The branch’s analysis indicates that assaults by suspects account for just under a third of all reports on MetAir (approximately 2000 reports a year). Of these, approximately 40 are classified as major accidents, 250 as more than 3-day injuries with the remainder classified as minor (which includes bruises, cuts and grazes). Approximately 85% of these reports involve police constables.

8. In an effort to reduce the number of assault injuries, CO11 has enhanced the Officer Safety Training (OST) for police officers. The branch also provides quarterly assault statistics to enable CO11 trainers to review and modify their role-play training as appropriate.

9. The number of traffic-related accidents is also high. The branch is supporting the Safe Driver 2 Campaign that is targeted at reducing these accidents and in conjunction with Traffic OCU is conducting further detailed analysis to determine the underlying causation factors.

10. The branch also proposed to undertake a campaign to reduce slips, trips and fall accidents in the next Financial Year as one of the new Branch sponsored objectives.

11. The MPS Management Board endorsed the proposal for Business Groups to participate in an initiative to achieve a 5% reduction in accident rates and a 15% reduction in over 3-day injuries for the financial year 2005/06. The board felt this was an ambitious target and requested that a review be conducted in December 2005.

C. Race and equality impact

There are no direct implications on equalities and diversity arising from this report.

D. Financial implications

There are no immediate financial implications arising from this report. The costs of complying with the audit will be met from within existing budgets.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Louis Backwell, Head of Health and Safety, MPS.

For information contact:

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

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