Deputy Assistant Commissioner and Commander posts in the MPS

Report: 3
Date: 09 April 2002
By: Commissioner

Summary

Following the last meeting of the Remuneration Sub-Committee, a report was requested setting out the rationale why some posts were appointed at DAC and some at Commander level.

A. Recommendations

That members note the contents of this report.

B. Supporting information

1. The rank of Deputy Assistant Commissioner (DAC) was reintroduced on 1 January 2002 under the provision of Section 123 Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.

2. The rank of DAC had earlier been abolished under the provisions of the Sheehy Reform recommendations and was replaced April 1995 by a legal obligation for a Chief Constable to designate a deputy to exercise the Chief’s duties in his or her absence. As the MPS was a much larger and complex organisation than other provisional forces, the number of Designated Deputies (or DACs) has generally always exceeded the number of Chief Officers (or Assistant Commissioners) in order to complement the management structure and provide sufficient command resilience. The structure and nature of the responsibilities within the MPS would not have supported restrictions on the number of DAC posts based purely on the number of Assistant Commissioner posts and would have had a detrimental impact on the delivery of the policing service in London.

3. A number of MPS Commander posts were evaluated in 1996 in order to inform PNB discussions about national pay proposals for the introduction of the new rank structure and FTAs. This review was undertaken using Hay methodology. Since then, and following a review of the job sizes of MPS Assistant Commissioner posts, the Hay Group was asked by PNB to review the job sizes of four DAC posts. These posts (Deputy to AC TP; Director Serious Crime Group; DAC Anti-Terrorism; and DAC Personnel) were selected as being a representative sample of the DAC posts across the MPS. Two of the four posts had previously been evaluated at Commander level in 1996. These posts came out higher in Hay job scoring terms than when they were previously evaluated and the scores of the other two DAC posts scored at a similar level.

4. This Hay evaluation, albeit of a limited number of posts, showed that there are clear differences between the responsibilities undertaken by Commanders and DACs. The number of officers holding DAC/ Commander appointments in the MPS (currently 13 DACs and 24 Commanders) form part of a robust command structure and allows for structured career progression and flexibility of deployment.

5. The numbers and responsibilities of Commanders and DACs was most recently reviewed as part of the Service Realignment exercise in 1999/2000, although adjustments have subsequently been made to individual posts as priorities have changed or new demands emerged. It seems appropriate that the number of ACPO posts, as well as the command functions, should be determined in discussion between the MPS and the Police Authority. Proposals for an annual review are covered by a separate paper for consideration by the Sub-Committee.

C. Financial implications

There are no financial implications arising from this report.

D. Background papers

None.

E. Contact details

Report author: Michael Shurety, Director of HR Services, MPS.

For information contact:

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

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