Commissioner’s report

Report: 3
Date: 24 June 2010
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report summarises recent performance in the MPS, as well as operations and initiatives designed to tackle crime and make London safer.

It is intended to update MPA members and give a high-level, strategic view of the work of the MPS. It highlights the Commissioner’s operational priorities of improving public confidence, tackling serious violence and serious youth violence, delivering value for money policing, ensuring a safe and secure Olympics and countering terrorism.

The performance figures referred to throughout are those for April 2010, the latest available before the deadline for submitting this report.

A. Recommendations

The report be received.

B. Supporting information

1. The following paragraphs offer Members a summary of recent performance within the MPS. It highlights where the MPS have been successful at reducing crime and the fear of crime. It also highlights the areas in which the MPS face a challenge and offers some commentary on initiatives and operations to address those issues.

2. The performance data referred to below is for April 2010 compared to April 2009. This is the most recently available data at the time of writing. At the Full Authority meeting, the Commissioner will be able to update members on performance in May 2010.

Confidence

3. Delivering safety and confidence are clear priorities for the Commissioner. The MPS must improve public confidence by increasing its presence on the streets, being intolerant of violence in all its forms and convincing communities the MPS are on their side.

British Crime Survey

4. In April 2009, the Home Office introduced a new overarching confidence measure for all police forces in England & Wales based on the percentage of British Crime Survey (BCS) respondents answering ‘strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’ when asked: “How much would you agree or disagree that the police and local council are dealing with the anti-social behaviour and crime issues that matter in this area?”

5. The MPS were set an ambitious target of 59.4% by March 2012 with an interim target of 55.4% by March 2011 against a baseline of 47.4% at December 2008. Since then, MPS results have improved gradually and now stand at 53.1% (year to December 2009).

6. The MPS know that there are many factors that affect public confidence, not just crime reduction but also how the MPS engage and interact with the public. Single patrolling is going some way to improving that interaction increasing our presence on the streets. It is now our default patrol style - double patrolling is only used for training officers or when a safety assessment has deemed it necessary. So far it has provided the equivalent of 480 extra officers on London’s streets.

7. The final 2009/10 BCS results are not expected until later in the summer. In the meantime, the MPS has established a Confidence and Satisfaction Board to develop a cohesive and co-ordinated action plan to drive further improvements in our performance.

User Satisfaction Survey

8. The User Satisfaction Survey (USS) measures the public’s experience of the service that they receive from the MPS. In Quarter 4 2009/10, 78.1% of people said they were satisfied with that service. The MPS are determined to drive this higher in 2010/11, with a target of 80%.

Satisfaction of white and Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) victims

9. The level of satisfaction for white victims still remains higher than the level for BME victims by around 5%. The Commissioner has stated publicly that he wants to close that gap during 2010/11.

10. Satisfaction with overall service for white victims and BME victims currently stands at 78.8% and 73.9% respectively (year to March 2010). Given the confidence interval is +/-0.7% for white victims and +/-1.1% for BME victims, levels are similar compared to the same period last year (white victims 78.6% and BME victims 74.0%).

Performance

Total Notifiable Offences

11. As the Commissioner reported at the last session of the MPA full Authority, Total Notifiable Offences (TNOs) for the year 2009/10 were at their lowest level since 1998/99. There were 828,752 offences, 16,284 fewer than in the previous financial year.

Serious Acquisitive Crime

12. The Serious Acquisitive Crime (robbery, motor vehicle crime and residential burglary) rate continues to fall. It was down 1.4% in April 2010 compared to 2009 - that is 223 fewer offences.

13. Robbery presents a challenge, going up by 143 offences (+5.0%) in April 2010 compared to the same period last year. The reduction target for 2010/11 is 3.0%. The MPS is closely monitoring the recent rise in knife-enabled robberies and has put plans in place early on to tackle it. An intelligence-led approach is being used, focussing on geographic crime hotspot areas and high risk offenders.

14. Since April 2010, as part of Blunt 2, additional resources have been provided to BOCUs particularly affected by knife crime, with the aim of detecting and reducing robberies and consequently knife crime and victimisation.

15. Residential burglary offences were down by 337 offences (7.2%) in April 2010 compared to the same period last year. This is in line with the end of year target of -4.0%.

16. There were 29 fewer motor vehicle crime offences in April 2010 (-0.3%) compared to the same period in 2009.

Most Serious Violence

17. Most Serious Violence (MSV) remains on a downward trend, down 22.1% or 240 fewer offences in April 2010 compared to the previous year. The target for reducing MSV in 2010/11 is -4.0%.

18. Despite this success, the MPS continue to focus on the challenge of reducing knife and gun crime. Knife crime was up by 5.6% compared to April 2009, an additional 57 offences. This includes the rise in knife enabled robberies, to which the MPS have responded operationally through Blunt 2 (see paragraph 14 above).

19. Gun crime also remains of serious concern to the MPS. There were 2 additional gun crime offences in April 2010, compared to last year, with 53 instances of a firearm being discharged and 3 deaths from shootings.

20. With the help of local community members and independent advisors, the MPS have drawn up action plans to address those areas most affected by gun crime, under the leadership of Commander Martin Hewitt. Those action plans set out specific enforcement action to be taken against individuals.

21. Operation Trident continues to work with BOCUs and local communities to reduce gun crime. Trident hope to continue their successful work during 2009/10 in reducing the number of shootings associated with licensed premises.

22. Firearms recovered by the MPS during operations are analysed so that ACPO can work with manufacturers and firearms bodies to reduce opportunities for gun crime. A recent example is the banning of the Olympic. 38 BB starter pistol, which was being converted for use in crimes across the UK. The manufacturer has withdrawn the pistol from sale in the UK and an amnesty for legitimate owners ended in early June. The British Shooting Sports Council has assisted in publicising the amnesty to their members.

Serious Youth Violence

23. Serious youth violence (SYV) was up by 65 victims (+2.0%) in April 2010 compared to last year. Tackling SYV and youth homicide remains a key priority for the Commissioner.

24. To keep young people safe, the MPS will continue to maintain a tactical focus through the umbrella of Operation Verano. Intelligence officers meet every morning with various officers, including the Blunt 2 taskforce and serious youth violence team to review existing intelligence and task officers accordingly. Included in this process is Operation Protect, which brings together Safer Schools officers, Safer Transport Teams and local BOCU officers who work together to ensure a safe journey for young people between home and school.

25. The MPS are also increasing the co-ordinated use of stop and search. The proactive stance taken in 2009 in using stop and search for weapons led to a significant impact on youth homicide.

26. Blunt 2 has increased the levels of stop and search from 125 a day to over 400. The MPS conducted over 7,000 more stops in March this year (123,390) than in February (116,329). This included an increase in Section 60 activity by over 40% (from 5,162 to 7,300).

27. There is a rolling programme of knife arch and hand held scanners across London, as a preventative tool. This activity can only be undertaken with the support of communities, schools, local authorities and local politicians. The primary message that the MPS are seeking to give out is that the streets of London are hostile to carrying a knife or a gun.

28. The MPS cannot do this alone - suppression tactics in isolation will not stop people from making the wrong choices. The MPS looks to the Mayor and government to galvanise partners in focusing on preventative action, and welcomes the work they are already undertaking.

Value for money

29. The MPS has now received confirmation from the Home Office of its ‘in year’ budget reduction for 2010/11. The MPS will be expected to make a total of £35m of savings in 2010/11. This could increase further if there are further reductions in any specific grants or LA funding including £5m on Counter Terrorism activity.

30. Like all public services at this time, the MPS must prove that it delivers value for money. The MPS have been committed to demonstrating this for some time, finding significant savings in recent years and committing to further savings as part of the 2011-14 budget and business planning process in order to comply with the 2011/12 Mayor's Budget Guidance.

31. As part of the 2010-13 planning process, budget reductions of £100m were identified for 2010/11, of which 70% was focussed on support services. Priority continues to be given to frontline policing and public-facing services. Where partnership funding for dedicated services is withdrawn, however, there will be no guarantee that that service will continue.

32. The requirement to make additional ‘in year’ savings mean the MPS must be even more focused, using the resources better and smarter. Management Board are implementing proposals to deliver these additional savings and will consider the savings required to deliver the Policing London Business Plan 2011-14, in line with the Mayor’s guidance and Government restraints, at their away-day on 29 June. The Commissioner will keep the MPA updated on developments.

Olympics

33. The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be a fantastic world class sporting event, and the MPS wants them to be safe and secure for everyone. The MPS approach remains to work with partners to deliver the right levels of safety and security.

34. Planning is on track and currently within budget as the two year mark in July approaches. However, in light of recent Government spending announcements, the Home Office is reviewing all budgets, including Olympic security costs. The MPA Olympic and Paralympic sub-committee will continue to receive detailed briefings on our preparations.

Counter Terrorism

35. Terrorism presents a serious and enduring threat to safety within London. Our approach fully reflects and supports Government strategy and detailed reporting of performance to the MPA CT and Protective Services Sub-committee continues.

36. Planning of counter-terrorism measures for the Olympics remains on track. MPS CT specialist staff have supported the delivery of a safe and secure design for Olympic Park and Village.

Recruitment

37. At the end of May 2010, there were 33,148 police officers, 3,297 special constables (MSC) and 4,653 police community support officers (PCSO) in the MPS. Focused community engagement and recruitment activities have sustained improvements in diversity, resulting in people from BME communities accounting for 9.3% of police officers, 30.6% of the MSC and 29.1% of PCSOs; females account for 23.1% of police officers, 29.5% of the MSC and 35.7% of PCSOs.

38. For the foreseeable future there will be unprecedented growth in the MSC. People Services and Territorial Policing have developed a recruitment strategy to meet the challenging MSC requirement in time for the 2012 Olympics. In addition, the regular police recruitment process is being reviewed and it is likely that a new process where the main pathway will be the MSC will be implemented later this year.

39. Whilst it is anticipate significant growth in MSC, the recruitment position for police officers, given the current economic climate and a significant fall in numbers of officers leaving the service, means the MPS will have more candidates than projected vacancies. No new applications have been accepted for some time and we have now commenced advising those in the system (many of whom have passed all assessments though not received formal offer) that there is no immediate prospect of admission into police officer training. A handling strategy to communicate the position to the 1800 applicants affected has been devised.

C. Race and equality impact

This report is concerned with overall MPS performance, but a of number of equalities issues are highlighted, notably measures to improve the satisfaction gap between white and BME victims and the work of Operation Trident.

Throughout all the operational activity detailed in this report, the MPS strives to improve the quality of service provided to victims of hate crime, ensuring that a consistent and effective service is provided to London’s diverse communities; to improve performance against domestic violence, ensuring a consistent level of service across all communities and minimising disproportionality issues; to increase community trust and confidence in the police; to develop a workforce that reflects the diversity of London.

D. Financial implications

There are no financial implications arising directly from this report.

E. Legal implications

As this report is a summary of operational performance data, no legal implications arise.

F. Background papers

• None

G. Contact details

Report author(s): Director of Business Strategy, Michael Debens

For more information contact:

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

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