Report on the Sub-committees of Strategic and Operational Policing Committee

Report: 11
Date: 15 October 2009
By: Chief Executive

Summary

This report contains a summary of reports received by the sub-committees of Strategic and Operational Policing Committee.

A. Recommendation

That members note the report.

B. Supporting information

1. At each meeting of the Strategic and Operational Policing Committee Authority members will receive a report on its sub-committees instead of the minutes. Part 1 minutes will be available on the website, and exempt part 2 minutes are available to members only, on request.

2. This report covers the following meeting:

• Olympics / Paralympics sub-committee - 10 September 2009
• Counter-Terrorism and Protective Services Sub-Committee - 23 July 2009
• Counter-Terrorism and Protective Services sub-committee - 7 September 2009
• Professional Standards Cases sub-committee - 25 June 2009
• Professional Standards Cases sub-committee - 13 July 2009
• Professional Standards Cases Sub-Committee - 30 July 2009.
• Professional Standards Cases sub-committee - 27 August 2009.
• Special meeting of Professional Standards Cases Sub-Committee - 24 September 2009

Olympics / Paralympics sub-committee - 10 September 2009

ACPO / MPS co-ordination of delivery of policing in preparation for the Olympic and Paralympic Games

3. The sub-committee received a report outlining arrangements for co-ordinating the police service response to commissions arising from the Olympic Safety and Security Plan, including the establishment of a new joint ACPO / MPS Olympics Policing Co-ordination Team.

The MPS Olympic Delivery Programme - financial approval process (exempt)

4. The sub-committee received a report suggesting a methodology to allow the MPA oversight and scrutiny of proposed MPS Olympic expenditure, including a timetable of proposed business cases requiring MPA approval. In order to review every business case the sub-committee would, based on the current timetable, be required to review approximately 17 business cases, and potentially a further 7 to be confirmed, at its meetings between October and December 2009. This could prove difficult logistically. The proposed option was to incorporate all the Olympic related estimates into the MPS 2010-13 budget. This would allow the Finance and Resources Committee and Full Authority to approve in principle the overall proposals, based on outline business case estimates. Full business cases for significant projects, any projects that required significant capital expenditure, the letting of a contract or a policy change would be submitted to the Olympic/Paralympic Sub-Committee. Financial limits would be as outlined in the MPA Financial Regulations. This meant the sub-committee would scrutinise approximately 80% of the proposed MPS Olympic budget. A process for agreeing the remaining 20% of business cases would be discussed outside the meeting.

Counter-Terrorism and Protective Services sub-committee - 23 July 2009

Performance update – PREVENT (exempt)

5. Prevent was one of the four strands of the MPS counter-terrorist strategy that dealt with stopping terrorist attacks. A report was received stating that last year had seen considerable development of Prevent capability and partnerships, and an increased presence at a local level.

Terrorism Act 2000 – tactical use and rollout of Section 44 (exempt)

6. This report outlined the history and rationale for the tactical review of section 43/44 Terrorism Act 2000 (TACT), the implementation of the new tactical model for section 44 use across the MPS and identified the background to the service wide rollout of the new model and control measures for effective integration into operational policing, supporting the Commissioner’s five Ps.

MPS response to Contest 2 (exempt)

7. A report was received updating members of the sub-committee on the MPS response to the CONTEST strand of the Government’s Counter Terrorism Strategy. The Chair stated that the report was a useful summary and could usefully be sent to all members of the Authority. It was agreed that SO would review the report and prepare a non exempt version.

Provision of information systems and technology to ACPO TAM (exempt)

8. This report provided members with an update on progress since the report to the sub-committee in April 2009 regarding proposals for the future governance of the ACPO TAM (Terrorist and Allied Matters) Information Systems/Technology (IS/IT) Strategy including the potential delivery to TAM of IS/IT Services by the MPS. Subject to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) being presented to members for ratification, approval was given in principle to a tripartite agreement between ACPO TAM, the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) and the MPA/MPS.

Specialist Operations financial management information – based on actual spend to May 2009 (exempt)

9. The sub-committee received a report containing the Specialist Operations (SO) financial management information pack based on actual spends to the end of May 2009. The pack provided an overview of SO and MPS Counter Terrorism Grant budget, spends and forecast at the end of May 2009. Concern was expressed about the continued overtime spend.

Specialist Operations management information (exempt)

10. A report was received providing an update on Specialist Operations performance against performance plan targets 2009/10 for the period April - May 2009.

Specialist Crime Directorate – reporting arrangements (exempt)

11. This report provided an overview on how the Specialist Crime Directorate (SCD) would report to the sub-committee on its covert and confidential policing functions and activity.

Counter-Terrorism and Protective Services sub-committee - 7 September 2009

Performance update – protect

12. The DAC, SO, introduced a report stating that PROTECT was one of the four strands of the MPS counter-terrorist strategy which dealt with stopping terrorist attacks. Last year had seen continuing improvement of its organisation and capability, and outstanding operational success with the G20 summit. The DAC, SO highlighted the ongoing discussion with the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) about full cost recovery for protecting high level members of the Government, visiting heads of state and others in need of armed protection.

SO17 - Palace of Westminster – oral update (exempt)

13. An oral update on SO17, Palace of Westminster, was provided by the BOCU Cdr. He explained how the MPS was contracted to provide security within the Palace of Westminster and spoke of the challenges of providing security in a place where 8,000 people worked and visited by 1.4 million.

SO 18 Aviation – oral update (exempt)

14. The OCU Cdr SO18 – Aviation, gave an oral presentation to the sub-committee on his work in protecting travellers and staff at London City and Heathrow airports.

Specialist Operations financial management information – based on actual spend to July 2009 (exempt)

15. The sub-committee received Specialist Operations financial management information based on actual spends to the end of July 2009. The appendix provided an overview of Specialist Operations and MPS Counter Terrorism Grant budget spends and forecast at the end of July 2009. At the end of July 2009 SO was forecasting a bottom line overspend for 2009/10 of £1,048k.

Specialist Operations management information (exempt)

16. The sub-committee received a report providing an update on Specialist Operations performance against performance plan targets 2009/10 for the period June-July 2009. Members reviewed the targets that not been met.

Professional Standards Cases sub-committee - 25 June 2009

Update on ACPO conduct matter (exempt)

17. Members received an update in relation to conduct matters concerning an ACPO officer.

Professional Standards Cases sub-committee - 13 July 2009

Police Pensions Regulations 1987 – application for a certificate of forfeiture

18. An application was made to the Home Secretary for a certificate of forfeiture following the conviction of ex officer.

Update on ACPO conduct matters

19. Members received two updates in relation to conduct matters concerning two ACPO officers.

Complaint against an ACPO officer

20. The sub-committee determined not to record the complaint and that no action should be taken.

Complaint against an two ACPO officers

21. One officer was retired and the sub-committee was not required to make any disciplinary decision in relation to that complaint. In any event the Senior Investigating Officer had concluded that there was no case to answer be either officer. However the sub-committee did agree to write to the Directorate of Professional Standards to ensure organisational learning was disseminated.

Complaint against an ACPO officer and other unidentified senior officers

22. The sub-committee deferred consideration of the report pending further information.

Settlement of civil claim

23. The sub-committee approve an offer to settle a high profile and sensitive civil claim.

Professional Standards Cases Sub-Committee - 30 July 2009.

Update on ACPO conduct matter (exempt)

24. Members received an update in relation to conduct matters concerning an ACPO officer.

Professional Standards Cases sub-committee - 27 August 2009.

25. Members received an update in relation to conduct matters concerning an ACPO officer.

Special meeting of Professional Standards Cases Sub-Committee - 24 September 2009

Police pensions regulations 1987 - application for a certificate of forfeiture

26. The sub-committee agreed to apply to the Home Secretary for a certificate of forfeiture.

Police Pensions Regulations 1987 – forfeiture of pension

27. A permanent 40% forfeiture of pension was imposed.

Complaint against an ACPO officer and other unidentified senior officers

28. The sub-committee agreed to defer consideration of this item to allow a deputation on behalf of the complainant.

Complaint against an unknown ACPO officer

29. The sub-committee agreed the allegation did constitute a complaint or a recordable conduct matter.

Complaint against an ACPO officer

30. The sub-committee determined not to record the complaints and that no action should be taken. The matter was referred to the MPS so it could consider whether there was any misconduct by a non-ACPO rank officer in failing to response to a letter.

Complaint against an ACPO officer

31. The sub-committee did agree that the allegation did form a complaint. However it was agreed to apply to the IPCC for a dispensation on the grounds that it was not reasonably practicable to complete the investigation because of the lapse of time since the events occurred, and the officer retirement making it more difficult to investigate the complaint against him.

Complaint against two ACPO officers

32. The sub-committee determined that the general duty to respond to all correspondence directly was too remote to be considered personal conduct and could not be considered a complaint under the Police Reform Act 2002.

Complaint against two ACPO officers

33. The sub-committee determined that the allegations against one ACPO officer was not a personal conduct matter as the general duty to respond to all correspondence directly was too remote to be considered personal conduct and could not be considered a complaint under the Police Reform Act 2002. The sub-committee determined that the allegation against the other officer was a personal conduct matter did constitute a recordable complaint. The sub-committee agreed to record the complaint and to apply to the IPCC for a dispensation on the grounds that it was not reasonably practicable to complete the investigation due to the resignation of ACPO officer.

Update on ACPO complaints and conduct matters – decisions taken under delegated authority

34. The sub-committee received a report summarising the complaints and conduct matters which have been considered under Delegated Authority and the recording decision taken in accordance with the Police Reform Act 2002; the Police (Complaints and Misconduct) Regulations 2004; the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2004 and the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2008, as appropriate.

Complaint against an ACPO officer

35. It was agreed to refer the matter to the Corporate Governance Committee for further consideration, recommendations and organisational learning.

Business interest appeal

36. The sub-committee was advised that the Home Secretary had upheld the appeal with regard to the sub-committees decision to dismiss a business interest appeal.

37. Copies of non exempt reports and minutes from the Authority and its committees can be viewed on the MPA website at www.mpa.gov.uk, or obtained from MPA Committee Services team.

C. Race and equality impact

There are no race and diversity impact issues directly arising from this report. Race and diversity impact is a standing item on reports submitted to committees and sub-committees.

D. Financial implications

There are no financial implications directly arising from this report although there could be financial implications arising from items discussed by sub-committees.

E. Legal implications

None given.

F. Background papers

• None

G. Contact details

Report author: Ruth Hastings Iqball, MPA

For information contact:

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

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