Headline performance report - 12 months to December 2008

Report: 7
Date: 5 March 2009
By: Director of Resources on behalf of the Commissioner

Summary

This report provides an overview of MPS performance for the rolling year to December 2008 with respect to the critical high-level indicators and further information on performance with respect to other policing plan indicators.

A. Recommendation

That Members note the latest performance against the Policing Plan.

B. Supporting information

Introduction

1. This report contains:

• A summary of performance against the 'Critical Performance Areas' (CPAs) - the top level measures in the Policing Plan (Appendix 1)
•  A report on all of the measures in the Plan and the Statutory Performance Indicators (SPIs) set by the Home Office (Appendix 2).

Background to Performance Information

2. The information compares performance over the rolling 12 months against targets. The rolling 12-month figures smooth distortions attributable to seasonal factors. Due to difficulties obtaining data relating to new indicators, results for some indicators have not yet become available. Performance against target is shown by traffic light.

3. The latest Home Office’s iQuanta rankings (1 = best, 4 = worst) are included where relevant. The MPS is compared against its Most Similar Forces (MSF) - Greater Manchester, West Midlands and West Yorkshire. (Merseyside was in the MSF pre 2008/09).

4. BCS refers to the annual British Crime Survey – a rolling survey of 50,000 UK residents per annum [3,000 across London]. The survey addresses a number of crime related topics, such as confidence in local policing and the prevalence of anti-social behaviour.

Performance: 12 months to December 2008

5. For the sixth consecutive year, crime is falling in London, and detection rates are rising. Overall crime [Total Notifiable Offences] for the last 12 months is marginally above the ten year low reached in November.

6. Appendix 1 provides performance information on the Critical Performance Area (CPA) targets included in the 2008/09 Policing Plan.

7. The MPS is broadly on target for all except three of the CPAs, (overall user satisfaction, satisfaction gap between white and minority ethnic victims, and the sanction detection rate for serious acquisitive crime). Performance is notably above target in relation to reducing serious acquisitive crime and gun crime.

User satisfaction

8. Overall satisfaction has remained broadly steady over the last two years. Latest results from the User Satisfaction Survey show overall satisfaction at 77.8% for the rolling year to December, up from 76.8% [rolling year to September 2008], but below the year-end target of 78.9%. Meeting the target still represents a significant challenge.

9. The User Satisfaction Survey addresses four main incident types – Burglary, Violent Crime, Vehicle Crime and Road Traffic Collisions.

•  At the national level, Burglary victims express the highest level of satisfaction (most burglary incidents receive a police visit). Burglary is the MPS’ strongest incident type, however our performance trails the other forces in our MSF.
•  At the national level, Road Traffic Collision victims express the second highest level of satisfaction. However, Road Traffic Collisions are the MPS’ weakest incident type compared to the other forces in our MSF.
•  Changes to the surveying of Road Traffic Collision (RTC) victims have taken place to align with Home Office guidance. The sample now excludes incidents that the police did not attend and those with pending prosecutions. Most victims are also now being interviewed earlier in the required 6-12 week window. These changes have led to increased reported satisfaction for RTC victims. We should see this improvement feed into the overall satisfaction measure over the next three quarters.
•  There is scope for the MPS to improve satisfaction with initial police action. MPS performance is approximately 10 percentage points adrift of the best-placed force in our MSF.

10. The satisfaction gap between white and minority ethnic victims at 4.8 percentage points is close to the national average and is the focus of ongoing research by the Home Office, NPIA and MPS to gain a greater understanding of the key drivers of satisfaction amongst different user groups.

11. Analysis of the MPS results shows that the satisfaction gap differs between incident types. The largest gaps are in relation to burglary and vehicle crime victims [both 8% points], although the gap in relation to victims of burglary has reduced from 12 points during 2007/08. The burglary satisfaction gap has narrowed due to an increase of 4 % points in satisfaction relating to BME users, with satisfaction of white users remaining stable. A full update on the satisfaction gap is being prepared for the Strategic and Operational Policing Committee on 2 April.

12. The significant amount of work underway to improve user satisfaction was reported to the Strategic and Operational Policing Committee in January. The majority of these activities will not have impacted on the satisfaction results reported for the rolling year to December. Future quarterly User Satisfaction survey results will be monitored for improvements. The following paragraphs reiterate activities underway:

13. The MPS Policing Pledge, ‘Our promise to citizens’, was launched in January and sets out the level of service that can be expected by Londoners. Members received an update on the Pledge at the Strategic and Operational Policing Committee on 4 December.

14. Operation Spotlight has been running since 17 November and aims to reduce residential burglaries, increase Sanction Detections and improve satisfaction of burglary victims. We have commissioned internal and external research to evaluate the satisfaction of burglary victims during Spotlight. The second phase of Operation Spotlight is due to complete at the end of March.

15. Keeping Victims informed through:

•  Dedicated Victim Focus PCSOs continue to improve compliance with the requirements of the Victim Code of Practice, which has led to improvements in the ‘Keeping You Informed’ satisfaction measure.

16. We’re improving our Front counter services by

•  Introducing front counter training to PC recruits and providing training to volunteers commensurate to the role, including conflict management and Emergency Life Support to a suitable level.
•  Introducing triage systems at those front counters with the highest levels of public contact to manage peaks of demand.
•  MPS Internet site development to create a virtual counter, collating all existing Internet front counter services into one place to improve access and increase electronic submission of applications.
•  Development of Information Kiosks: to provide self-help information and reporting facility within buildings to alleviate queues and outside buildings to access services when closed.

17. The ‘Key Encounters’ training package is currently being considered for roll out to front line officers across the MPS. The training addresses police encounters with the public and is designed to improve the trust and confidence of the wider community.

18. Work continues with the Team Leader and Command Leader components of the Commissioner’s Leadership Programme. Leadership Academy Local provides an outreach team to visit local service delivery units to aid quality of service and provide Citizen Focused good practice.

19. We’ve improved Collision Accident Reporting timeliness and have introduced some changes to existing processes since the New Year including a self reporting process at Front Counters, an interim CAD (Computer Aided Despatch) completion process and real time electronic transfer of reports

Serious Acquisitive Crime

20. For the rolling year to December the sanction detection rate for serious acquisitive crime was 11.1%, this is an improvement over the previous year (10.0% for the rolling year to Dec 2007) but below our 2008/9 target of 11.8%. Performance for the remaining quarter of 2008/09 now needs to be above 15% if this target is to be met.

21. Overall the MPS ranks 3rd in its MSF for serious acquisitive crime sanction detection rate over the rolling year to December. Our MSF rankings for the component crimes within serious acquisitive crime are motor vehicle crime [4th], residential burglary [2nd] and robbery [3rd].

22. Key activity to improve our sanction detection rate for serious acquisitive crime includes:

•  Researching good practice at most similar forces with stronger sanction detection performance for any learning that we can apply.
•  Operation Spotlight: As already mentioned, one aim of Operation Spotlight is to increase the burglary sanction detection rate. The MPS Burglary Enforcement Campaign commenced on 2 February with a key objective for each borough to reduce offences and to arrest and charge a minimum of ten offenders for burglary. Territorial Policing will be deploying additional resources to assist six of the most challenged high volume boroughs.

Confidence in Policing

23. The performance assessment on confidence in local policing has moved from “red” to “amber” following release of the latest British Crime Survey results. These show that the percentage of people who think their local police do a good job has increased from 53.7% [year to June 2008] to 54.2% [year to Sept 2008] and the MPS is restored to first in its MSF. Performance however remains 2% points below the year-end target of 56.2%. The Strategic and Operational Policing Committee was updated on MPS actions to improve public confidence at its meeting on 5 February.

24. Appendix 2 provides performance information on other measures featured in the 2008/09 Policing Plan including commentary on exceptions.

C. Race and equality impact

Implications of performance against individual targets are considered in in-depth performance reports throughout the year. This report notes exceptions in strategic disproportionality indicators where applicable.

D. Financial implications

The content of this report raises no additional financial implications beyond forecasts and estimates previously presented to the authority.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: David Dibble and Lesley Nichols, Strategy and Improvement Department, MPS.

For information contact:

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

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