MPA Engagement In Crime And Disorder Reduction Partnerships

Report: 14b
Date: 30 September 2004
By: Clerk

Summary

This report proposes general levels of Authority engagement with local crime and disorder reduction partnerships (CDRPs) and outlines a number of areas that the Authority may wish to promote within each CDRP in London. This report was considered by the Co-ordination and Policing Committee on 10 September and the views from that meeting are set out in paragraphs 5 to 8.

A. Recommendation

- That

1. the proposed general approach of the Authority to partnership working be endorsed, and
2. the Committee select two priority theme areas for promotion by the Authority within London’s crime and disorder reduction partnerships.

B. Supporting information

1. The next round of police reform will reinforce the growing view that statutory partnerships are the primary mechanisms for the delivery of crime and disorder reduction. We should anticipate that community safety will be seen as a matter for all of the ‘responsible partners’ not just the police service. In the capital, performance will likely be managed by the Government Office for London and probably be supplemented by joint HMIC / Audit Commission inspections. A recent inspection of the MPA by the Audit Commission found that the Authority had taken the right steps towards meeting its statutory partnership role but they were unable to discern the impact of those measures at that stage. This report seeks to ensure a corporate approach to Authority engagement with the crime and disorder reduction partnerships in London so that link members and partnership support officers work consistently towards common, agreed objectives which do have an impact. This will help promote and demonstrate our interest in, and contribution to, all the partnerships across the capital for the year 2004/05.

2. Set out below are a number of options for consideration as potential areas for input into partnership work. These are based upon the knowledge gained by the CDRP team during the Authority’s first year as a ‘responsible partner’. The approach is divided into two sections. The first sets out regular, engagement work relating to CDRPs. The second section relates to developmental work and proposes possible priority themes in respect of which members would receive particular briefings, such as special reports, feedback and best practice. Members may wish to consider which themes the Authority should actively promote. In this context ‘promote’ means encourage partnerships to

• include and discuss theme related matters within their agendas;
• develop CDRP policy on that issue; and,
• improve local responsiveness to that issue.

In order to develop the means of evaluating the impact of the Authority upon CDRPs, indicative outcomes are also shown in respect of each.

3. Engagement work

4. Developmental work

Set out below are five areas which the Authority could take forward on a corporate basis within CDRPs. Given the limited capacity of members and the CDRP team, and the multiplicity of CDRPs, members are invited to indicate which two they consider particularly important for the MPA to promote. The list is not exhaustive and other options can be considered but for greatest impact we should avoid duplicating the efforts and/or specific responsibilities of other agencies. Naturally, the adoption of corporate priorities does not preclude special areas of interest being taken forward on a local rather than Londonwide basis.

Theme 1 – To promote CDRP contribution to ‘safer neighbourhoods’.

Areas to promote

1. CDRP monitoring of implementation;
2. the active involvement of all agencies;
3. transparent and locally agreed criteria for further roll-out;
4. community engagement on ‘safer neighbourhoods’ work.

Impact measures

• Safer neighbourhoods on agenda and evidencing of (a) – (d);
• Improved agency and public involvement with Safer Neighbourhoods.

Theme 2 - To promote the focus of crime and disorder reduction partnerships upon community engagement / consultation.

Areas to promote

1. Identification and resolution of priority issues locally with active involvement of communities;
2. Development of effective community consultation as part of the routine business processes of the CDRP particularly consultation with BME communities
3. CDRP involvement/contribution to the MPA/MPS consultation process;
4. Inclusion of feedback from local audits into the local and MPA planning processes.

Impact measures

• Improved local consultation and engagement
• Variance between community safety plans and national strategies;
• Actions taken to address local and policing plan priorities;
• Improved CDRP engagement with planning process;
• Broader agreement of policing plan priorities.

Theme 3 – To promote CDRP focus upon a specific crime and disorder reduction issue (of London-wide concern and/or cross border impact).

Areas to promote/suggestions

1. Implementation of Prolific and other Priority Offender Strategy
2. hate/race hate crime;
3. transport related crime;
4. late night economy/town centre drinking/licensing;
5. anti-social behaviour;
6. gun/organised crime.

Impact measures

• Agenda consideration given to the issue across London CDRPs.
• Development of local policies.
• CDRP monitoring of activity.

Theme 4 – To support and influence CDRP development on specific process and structural improvement issues.

Areas to promote/suggestions

1. information sharing;
2. anti-social behaviour;
3. joint tasking.

Impact measures

• Identification and sharing good practice.
• MPA input at London-wide level.
• Multi-agency policy set out.

Theme 5 – To influence and support the MPS with emerging external partnership demands

Areas to promote/suggestions

1. co-location/shared use of buildings;
2. victims and witness support work/facilities;
3. third party reporting.

Impact measures

• Identify and share good practice.
• Dismantling of barriers.
• Advice and direction agreed between MPA and MPS.

Co-ordination & Policing Committee

5. The Co-ordination and Policing Committee considered this report at its meeting on 10 September. As it would be of interest and relevance to all link members, it agreed to refer it to a meeting of the Authority.

6. At the COP committee meeting there was general agreement that the focus should be on themes for which the Authority was well-placed to add value to CDRP work. Given the Authority’s statutory responsibility for consultation Theme 2 was felt to be such an area. This is particularly true in respect of minority group engagement with CDRPs, which has come to the notice of the Authority and other London-wide partners as an area that could be significantly improved.

7. The discussion also recognised and re-iterated how the MPA, through its position on all partnerships across London, was well placed to learn of and share good practice. Accordingly there was interest in Theme 5 and the supportive role the MPA could play in respect of this. Sharing good practice will is a primary part of the Partnerships Team’s work and they are currently developing a website page and a showcase event for CDRPs when strategies are due to be published next spring. This approach coincides with the London Crime Reduction Delivery Board agreeing the clustering of CDRPs and representation of the clusters on the Board, in order to identify and promote best practice.

8. It is acknowledged that CDRPs may have different local priorities so there is a need for link members to be flexible. Choosing MPA themes does not preclude members promoting other issues determined locally but clarifies the areas that the Authority wishes taken forward, in all boroughs, on a corporate basis.

C. Race and equality impact

The proposals for priority themes contain a number of issues that will promote equality and diversity, such as those seeking to increase community engagement, tackling race/hate crime, reassurance of vulnerable groups, tackling disproportionality and consultation with specific groups.

D. Financial implications

None.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author:  Keith Dickinson, Head of Policing Policy and Partnerships.

For more information contact:

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

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