Headline performance report - 12 months to July 2009

Report: 5
Date: 3 September 2009
By: Deputy Commissioner on behalf of the Commissioner

Summary

This report provides an overview of progress against targets set for Critical Performance Areas and other corporate measures featured in the Policing London Business Plan 2009–12.

A. Recommendation

That members note the latest performance against the MPA/MPS Policing Plan and the MPS’s activity underway to improve outcomes.

B. Supporting information

Introduction

1. This report provides an update on progress against our key areas of performance. The Policing London Business Plan 2009-12 highlights how the MPS, supported by the MPA, will deliver the two key outcomes of improved safety and improved public confidence (along with ensuring that we do so efficiently and with a clear focus on productivity). Our Policing Plan, underpinned by the 5Ps (Presence, Performance, Productivity, Professionalism and Pride), has been developed to sustain the crime reduction that has been achieved over the last ten years and, at the same time, increase public trust and confidence in the MPS.

2. In July we highlighted some key issues, and we continue to focus on these. For example, we reported on our plans to tackle a rise in burglary, and Operation Bumblebee is fully underway; and we gave an outline of Operation Verano to tackle Most Serious Violence, which is also underway.

3. Whilst maintaining a focus on our immediate performance challenges, we are also looking ahead to manage our long term performance most effectively. Building on existing processes we are embedding a simple, consistent Performance Management Framework. The aim is to use analysis to provide relevant insight and enable effective decision-making within the MPS that leads to better performance.

4. In the context of these successes our aim is to focus discussion here on areas we are looking to improve. The following paragraphs report performance by exception against those indicators where, this month it appears there is greatest need for action.

Technical note

5. A proforma detailing the indicators to be reported within the Headline Performance report throughout 2009/10 was presented and approved at the June Strategic and Operational Policing Committee. This report provides data for the rolling year to July 2009 in the format agreed.

6. The report comprises two main sections:

• 'Critical Performance Areas' [CPAs] - the corporate ‘critical few’ measures highlighted in the Policing Plan (Appendix 1)
• Other Corporate Policing Plan Indicators – all non-CPA corporate measures featured in the Policing Plan (Appendix 2).

7. Where possible, performance for the rolling year to July 2009 has been shown. Rolling 12-month figures are used as these help smooth distortions attributable to seasonal factors. Year to date performance reflects the period from April to July 2009 compared to the same period last year. Performance is shown against the 2009/10 targets and assessed using a red, amber or green traffic light.

• ‘Green’ status indicates performance on or above target.
• ‘Amber’ status indicates performance marginally below target.
• ‘Red’ status indicates exceptions where performance is well below target and appears at risk unless remedial action is taken.

No traffic light status has been shown for those indicators where there is no data relating to the current performance year e.g. Confidence in local policing, which uses British Crime Survey (BCS) to March 2009.

Current Performance Focus

Confidence in local policing (SPI 2.2)

8. Using the new Home Office confidence measure “% of people who agree that the police and local council are dealing with anti-social behaviour and crime issues that matter in their area”, confidence in local policing in the MPS stands at 49.3% (BCS data for the 12 months to March 2009). Confidence using this measure has increased by nearly 2% pts in the first six months since the question was first introduced (comparing current figure for 12 months to March 2009 with 12 months to Sept 2008: 47.4%), and at the current rate of improvement we would achieve the required increase of over 10% pts by Mar 2012, and meet the Home Office final target of 59.4% by March 2012. We will continue to update on this important performance area regularly.

User Satisfaction

9. Satisfaction with the overall service provided by the police is at 77.3% for the 12 months to June 2009, against a target to improve satisfaction to 80% (using MPS User Satisfaction Survey). There has been little change in overall satisfaction levels over the past 4 years, ranging between 76.6% and 78.7% during that time. Within overall satisfaction however there has been a reduction in satisfaction of victims of violent crime – by 9% pts over 3 years. This has been balanced by a corresponding increase in the satisfaction of victims of road traffic collisions, which we expected would follow from the changes in survey practice to align with Home Office guidance that we reported to this committee in March.

10. A paper was discussed at the MPS Performance Board in August to help focus improvement actions across the MPS. It was recommended that existing activities within the Victim and Witness Working Group and the Pledge Working Group continue. A process will be put in place to continually monitor and refine the suite of actions that deliver the best results and ensure effective coordination.

Comparison of satisfaction of white and BME victims with respect to overall service

11. The satisfaction gap between white and BME victims of crime now stands at 5.5% points for the 12 months to June 2009, against a target to reduce to 3.8% pts. The gap has slightly widened since it was last reported (4.7% pts 2008/09) and the difference between target and performance (1.7% pts) is now greater than the natural margin of error for this measure (+/- 1.6% pts), confirming that the target is being missed. However the MPS satisfaction gap is similar to that across England and Wales as a whole (5.7% for the year to March 2009).

12. Please see the separate report presented to this meeting for details on the MPS approach to narrowing the satisfaction gap.

Most serious violence (MSV)

13. MSV has increased by 0.6% over the period April – July 2009 compared to the same period in 2008. Comparison is only available over the year-to-date due to the changes in MSV recording practices brought in by the Home Office from April 2008. The combined measure of MSV and Assault with Injury (AWI) is also up by a similar level over the year to date (0.7%). However, within MSV, homicides have reduced by 29 offences (46%) over the four month comparison period. There are also reductions within serious youth violence (down 8.9%, 227 fewer victims) and knife crime (down 4.4%, 192 offences) over the same period.

14. As reported in the last Headline Performance report, Operation Verano commenced on 6th July 2009 and will run until 4th October. This is an umbrella operation to deliver an integrated response to serious violence through the summer. It is driven by an intelligence cell staffed from Territorial Policing (TP) and the Specialist Crime Directorate (SCD) which co-ordinates a range of tactics through daily meetings, operating seven days a week. The meetings focus on violent incidents over the past 24 hours, intelligence received, and events and potential incidents that are coming up. Tactical deployments are then made through a number of other existing operations.

Serious acquisitive crime

15. Serious acquisitive crime comprises residential burglary, robbery and motor vehicle crime. As a whole, serious acquisitive crime is down 5.1% over the rolling year (Aug 2008 to July 2009 compared with Aug 2007 to July 2008). This reduction however masks a 2.6% increase in residential burglary over the same comparison period. Over the year to date both residential burglary and robbery are rising (by 10.5% and 2.9% respectively). Motor vehicle crime however remains on a downward trend – and is at its lowest level in any 12 month period since at least 1998/99.

16. The Headline Performance Report to the July SOP committee meeting detailed the work being undertaken as part of Operation Bumblebee, the overarching burglary initiative. A detailed Bumblebee Action Plan has been signed off by Performance Board with activity focused on dismantling organized criminal groups, increasing surveillance capacity and impact, increasing effectiveness of intelligence, optimizing criminal justice partnerships and prevention campaigning. Enforcement resource has been allocated by Corporate Tasking, and a board is in place to monitor delivery.

Serious sexual offences sanction detection rate

17. Over the 12 months to July, the sanction detection rate (SD) for serious sexual offences was 28.1%, against a target of 31% for 2009/10. Whilst the SD rate improved by over 5% pts between 2007/08 and 2008/09 (from 25.0% to 30.1%), it has since fallen.

18. A number of activities are underway including the establishment of SCD2 Sapphire Operational Command Unit (OCU), which starts operation on 23 September 2009. Problem profiles are being completed by four boroughs with the highest number of stranger attacks. The Met Intelligence Bureau (MIB) has completed the scoping of high risk sexual offenders and analysis is underway to identify action. A sexual offences analysis model has been developed and is being promulgated to borough analysts.

Police officer recruits from minority ethnic groups

19. The proportion of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) recruits is 15% over the rolling year, against a target to increase to 20%. This proportion has reduced since 2008/09 year end (16.2%).

20. Whilst below target, the recruitment of BME police officers has made steady progress over the rolling year. A total of 382 BME police recruits joined the MPS during the 12 months to June 2009 (figures are to June as there is no intake during July).

21.The current application pool contains a sufficient number of BME applications to deliver the necessary level of BME appointments. Success is dependent on enhanced Positive Action support activities commencing in Sept 2009. Processing activity is being structured and timed to have sufficient candidates appointment-ready up to and including Mar 2010.

22. BME police officer strength has increased from 2,611 in June 2008 to 2,973 in June 2009, an increase of 362 officers. This represents 9.0% of the total police officer strength of 33,208 and is, once again, the highest level ever recorded within the MPS.

Gun crime

23. For the year to date there has been a 14% increase (139 offences) in reported gun crime. This short term performance, however, must be viewed in the context of the 25.8% decrease achieved over the whole of 2008/09. The largest increase for the year to date is within robbery offences which are up nearly 23% (106 offences). Robberies currently account for over half of recorded gun crime and it is important to note that in very few of these cases is a firearm discharged and in a significant percentage of cases, the presence of a firearm is intimated by offenders who convince their victims that they are armed. The methods used by SCD7 in partnership with Boroughs and the industry on commercial robbery are recognised nationally as best practice and deliver strong detection and conviction rates, and this work is being constantly developed to enhance performance.

24. Within this overall rise, there have been 60 more SCD8 Trident gun crime offences, which whilst relatively small in actual numbers, represent a 76% increase in the number of offences for the same period last year, which saw significantly lower levels of offences across the MPS in comparison to previous years. The offences measured within 'gun crime' as a category include those charged for possession of a firearm. These charges directly reflect police proactivity, and notably, between April and the end of July 2009 SCD8 Trident seized 34 firearms, an increase of 13% on the previous year.

25. Whilst the increase has not resulted in a rise in gun homicides over the same period, we are nonetheless giving the issue greater focus. There has been a reorganisation of staff to support the most affected areas within the Trident command, and bespoke action plans, jointly owned by Trident and TP, have been put in place with the Boroughs suffering the greatest impact. This activity is supporting Operation Verano to tackle serious violence. Trident, supported by a number of OCUs, also have a rolling programme of covert operational activity to target gun criminality across the MPS.

26. Our extensive proactive operational activity is being supported with public campaigns and community engagement. At the start of August, the MPS put out an appeal for registered shotgun owners to safeguard their guns due to an increase in shotguns being used in shootings. This included advice to registered owners on the measures they could take to help prevent shotguns being stolen. The annual Trident publicity campaign is currently being planned and will focus on engaging with those who store or carry firearms, to explain the consequences and encourage reporting of information about guns.

Serious acquisitive crime SD rate

27. The rolling year SD rate is 10.0%, against a target of 11.8%. Rate has fallen by over 1% pt since Dec-08 (11.1% and was ahead of current target). Main drop is within residential burglary – down 2.6% pts over the last year (12.0% over the RY to Jul-09, compared with 14.6% over the RY to Jul-08). Our approach to addressing this performance area is encompassed in our overall approach to tackling SAC.

MPS refreshed approach to Performance Management

28. During the past month, alongside our operational work to improve performance, we have begun to consolidate our overall approach to managing performance.

29. A cross Business Group performance analysis and reporting group has begun working together on some of the high priority performance areas. In the first of a regular series of monthly meetings with senior level decision makers a new way of working was agreed.

30. A programme of activity is in place around 4 key themes including:

1. Gain consensus on operational priorities for MPS and ensure link with meaningful indicators.
2. Improve data consistency and remove duplication of performance reporting.
3. Ensure performance analysis effectively informs senior level decision-making.
4. Build an understanding of what good Performance Management is and capability for delivering it throughout the MPS.

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. Legal implications

1. There are no direct legal implications arising, as this is a performance monitoring report.

2. The MPA has a duty to secure the maintenance of an efficient and effective police force for its area under s6 of the Police Act 1996. The MPA also have a specific duty to monitor the MPS’s performance against the Policing Plan under s6ZA of the Police Act 1996, as inserted by paragraph 8, Schedule 2 of the Police & Justice Act 2006 and the Police Authorities (Particular Functions & Transitional Provisions) Order 2008.

3. The Committee is the relevant committee to receive the report as its terms of reference set out it is responsible for considering and maintaining police performance against the Policing Plan targets and any performance indicators set locally or by external organisations.

F. Background papers

• None

G. Contact details

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

For information contact:

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

Acronym List

AWI

Assault with Injury

BCS

British Crime Survey

BME

Black and Minority Ethnic

CPAs

Critical Performance Areas

MIB

Met Intelligence Bureau

MPA

Metropolitan Police Authority

MPS

Metropolitan Police Service

MSV

Most Serious Violence

OCU

Operational Command Unit

SAC

Serious Acquisitive Crime

SCD

Specialist Crime Directorate

SD

Sanction Detection Rate

TP

Territorial Policing

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