Headline performance report - 12 months to January 2009

Report: 6
Date: 2 April 2009
By: Director of Resources on behalf of the Commissioner

Summary

This report provides an overview of MPS performance for the rolling year to January 2009 with respect to the critical high-level indicators and further information on performance with respect to other policing plan indicators.

A. Recommendation

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 January 2009

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 at a ten year low.

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 two of the CPAs, (satisfaction gap between white and minority ethnic victims, sanction detection rate for serious acquisitive crime). Performance is notably above target in relation to reducing serious acquisitive crime, reducing the number of road users killed or seriously injured, reducing gun crime and the number of cases where cash seizures were made in relation to offences.

Satisfaction Gap between white and minority ethnic victims

8. 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. A full update on the satisfaction gap is presented in a separate report for this Strategic and Operational Policing Committee.

Serious Acquisitive Crime

9. For the rolling year to January the sanction detection rate for serious acquisitive crime was 10.8%, this is an improvement over the previous year (10.1% for the rolling year to Jan 2008) but below our 2008/9 target of 11.8%. Performance for the remaining two months of 2008/09 now needs to be roughly 19% if this target is to be met. Such monthly performance is well above the best achieved in recent years.

10. Overall the MPS ranks 4th 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].

11. 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

12. The December 2008 BCS update on confidence in local policing (SPI 2.3) is not expected until the end of April. Results for the year to September 2008, however, show that the percentage of people who think their local police do a good job moved from 53.7% [year to June 2008] to 54.2% [year to Sept 2008] with the MPS first in its MSF group. Performance however remains 2% points below the year-end target of 56.2%. The Strategic and Operational Policing Committee was updated on MPS work to improve public confidence at its meeting on 5 February. Please also see the TP Thematic Performance report presented to this meeting.

User Satisfaction

13. Overall satisfaction has remained broadly steady over the last two years. Results from the User Satisfaction Survey are published quarterly. The latest results for the rolling year to December show overall satisfaction at 77.8%, 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.

14. The significant amount of work underway to improve user satisfaction was reported to the Strategic and Operational Policing Committees in January and March. The majority of these activities will not have impacted on the satisfaction results reported for the rolling year to December. Accordingly we await quarterly User Satisfaction Survey results to the end of March 2009 to monitor for improvements. The following paragraphs reiterate activities underway:

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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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