IPCC Performance Management Framework

Report: 4
Date: 5 February 2009
By: Director of Professional Standards on behalf of the Commissioner

Summary

The Independent Police Complaints Committee (IPCC) is working in partnership with key stakeholders to design a Performance Management Framework (PMF) for the police complaints system. The framework will build on the Statutory Guidance and provide a useful tool for assessing and improving the performance of the complaints system as a whole.

A. Recommendation

That

1. members note the work that is being undertaken by the MPS in support of the IPCC Performance Management Framework; and
2. agree that the IPCC Performance Management Framework will eventually replace the Professional Standards Performance Indicators that are currently reported to the Strategic and Operational Policing Committee.

B. Supporting information

1. A Joint Project Board was created to oversee the delivery of the Performance Management Framework (PMF) and have final approval on the content. The Project Board includes representatives of the following organisations:

• The IPCC
• The Home Office
• The Association of Police Authorities (APA)
• The Complaints and Misconduct Committee of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO)
• Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies (HMIC)
• The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA)

2. Each of these stakeholders has a role to play in monitoring and improving the police complaints system. If it is to be successful the PMF must be a useful tool that is used universally by all of these stakeholders to judge the performance of the complaints system.

3. The PMF is divided into five main areas each of which will have a number of separate performance indicators associated with them. The areas are Confidence, Learning, Engagement, Proportionality and Accountability.

4. A pilot phase has been introduced to verify the proposed performance indicators with real data to test value, identify risks or issues and set a baseline of expected performance, where appropriate, against the chosen indicators.

5. The MPS has been selected as a pilot site and the DPS are currently working with the IPCC PMF project team to confirm the counting rules, provide sample data for each of the indicators and provide feedback on the impact of data collection activities.

6. The learning gained from the pilot will be used to inform the implementation plan and it is likely that there may need to be some phasing of the wider implementation across the 43 ‘Home Office’ police forces and British Transport Police. This is due to commence in April 2009.

7. The aim of the PMF is that it is meaningful for all stakeholders. However, not all of the data required for the performance indicators is available for the first phase of implementation. When the framework is introduced further work may be required to develop the data collection and reporting processes as new data becomes available and in response to the learning and feedback gathered during the implementation.

8. There are a number of benefits expected to arise for all stakeholders from the introduction of the PMF. Those specifically expected for Police Authorities are:

• To promote the PMF as the main vehicle for developing a consensus view of the performance of the complaints system.
• To review and scrutinise the performance of the MPS in relation to complaints as reported in the PMF.
• Work with their force to ensure that appropriate actions are in place to address poor performance.
• Feed in to the ongoing development of indicators and improvement of the PMF

9. There is a potential risk that not all of the stakeholders, or their membership, will accept the PMF as a method by which everyone can monitor and improve the complaint system. Without such consistency it will make valid comparisons with other forces difficult and potentially require additional resources to service other similar reports.

C. Race and equality impact

1. The IPCC PMF includes indicators in relation to the characteristics of those subject to a complaint and include; staff type (i.e. police officers, police staff including police community support officers and special constables), gender, age and ethnicity.

2. The IPCC PMF also includes similar indicators in relation to the characteristics of complainants.

3. In the future the IPCC have proposed that there will be qualitative data available through surveys. This data can be used alongside the quantitative data to highlight any potential disproportionality issues requiring of further analysis.

D. Financial implications

1. There are no additional financial implications currently predicted in the implementation of the IPCC PMF which is expected to be delivered within existing resources.

E. Background papers

Further details of the IPCC PMF consultation can be found on the IPCC website:

• www.ipcc.gov.uk/news/pr_070708_performance_framework_consultation.htm

F. Contact details

Report author: Michael Clark, Higher Performance Analyst, Directorate of Professional Standards, MPS

For information contact:

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

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