TP Thematic Performance Report - Community Safety Units

Report: 5
Date: 5 November 2009
By: AC of Territorial Policing on behalf of the Commissioner

Summary

This report provides an overview concerning the MPS performance trends in relation to hate crime and the resourcing of borough based Community Safety Units.

A. Recommendation

That members note this report

B. Supporting information

Introduction

1. This report summarises the current hate crime performance for the MPS for the financial year to date; sets this in the context of hate crime and Community Safety Unit (CSU) performance over the last four years; and provides examples of good practice from local, corporate and borough initiatives.

2. The report notes that overall sanctioned detection rates in the areas of racist crime and homophobic crime have improved significantly over the last few years; and that the productivity of staff employed in CSUs in detecting crimes has also increased significantly. The MPS is not complacent in respect of these issues and seeks to build on the current performance.

Racist and faith hate offences

3. Since the beginning of the financial year, racist and faith hate crimes across the MPS are counted together as ‘race/faith’ crimes. This is felt by the MPS and partners to be a more effective measure in view of the significant cross over between racist and faith crime.

4. There have been 5,507 combined racist and faith hate offences and 2,303 sanctioned detections (SDs) recorded between 1 April and 11 October 2009. This is an SD rate of 41.8% against a target of 41.7%. Compared to the same period in 2008/9 there has been an increase of 161 offences and an increase of 125 SDs. For the same period in 2008/9, the SD rate for Race/Faith hate offences was 40.7%.

5. Each borough has its own bespoke sanctioned detection target for race/faith crime. These targets range between 40% and 50%. At present, fifteen boroughs are achieving their bespoke targets, four are within 10% of their target (this represents a shortfall of 9 SDs between these 4 boroughs) and thirteen are below their target (this represents a shortfall of 184 SDs between these 13 boroughs).

6. Over the last four years, the MPS race crime SD rate has had a notable increase from 18.3% for 2004/5 to 43.6% for financial year 2008/9. The volume of offences fell during the first three years; however there was a slight increase in 2008/9. The volume of SDs has increased from 2,361 in 2004/5 to 4,219 in 2008/9.

Homophobic offences

7. The homophobic crime SD rate has had a significant increase from 17.6% for 2004/5 to 47.9% for 2008/9. The volume of offences has fluctuated over the last five years with a slight increase in 2008/9. The volume of SDs has increased from 230 in 2004/5 to 524 in 2008/9.

8. There have been 761 homophobic offences and 328 SDs recorded between 1st April and 11th October 2009. This is a SD rate of 43.1% against a target of 44.0%. This equates to a shortfall of seven SDs. For the same period in 2008/9 the homophobic offence SD rate was 41.4%.

9. Compared to the same period in 2008/9 there has been an increase of 121 offences and an increase of 63 SDs. This rise can in part be attributed to the improved identification of hate crime offences via the upgrade to the crime recording system (see paragraph 15-17).

10. Each borough has a sanction detection target of 44% for homophobic crime. At present, sixteen boroughs are currently achieving their targets, three are within 10% of their target (combined total of three SDs between the three boroughs) and thirteen are below their target (this represents a shortfall of 39 SDs between these 13 boroughs).

Performance/productivity of Borough Community Safety Units

11. In 2004 the MPS conducted a study into CSU workloads. Every borough has a CSU, which is responsible for the investigation of Domestic Violence (DV) and hate crime incidents/offences.

12. The study noted that there were 465 CSU staff at that time, compared to 564 at present. The total volume of SDs for DV and Hate Crime in 2003/4 was 13,314; the total volume in financial year 2008/9 was 29,405.

13. In 2003/4 there were 28.6 SDs per CSU officer. This increased to 52.1 SDs per CSU officer in 2008/9. This represents an increase of 82.3% in the productivity of CSU staff.

Identification of hate incidents

14. On 5 December 2009 the Crime Reporting Information System (CRiS) was updated to more accurately identify and flag hate incidents. This has led to an improved identification of all categories of hate crime.

15. The victim’s sexual orientation (if disclosed) is recorded for homophobic crime and the victim’s gender identity (if disclosed) is recorded for transphobic crime.

16. These changes have enabled the MPS to improve the way it identifies communities and people targeted by hate crime suspects and identify victim’s needs. It also enables the MPS to deploy its resources and that of its partners in a more cost effective way.

Initiatives & partnership response

17. The MPS works actively to build partnerships across the wide spectrum of communities affected by domestic violence and hate crime. An example includes Waltham Forest. The primary source of contact with disabled organisations on the borough is via the Safer Neighbourhood Team. Examples include regular attendance at the Waltham Forest Disability Resource Centre. They have a drop in centre that promotes learning and encourages people with disabilities to live independently. The SNT offer crime prevention advice, give out free crime prevention goods and also answer general questions that relate to crime and police matters. The borough has a folder of vulnerable people which does include those that are disabled. These people are visited regularly by a particular PCSO who is the nominated officer for disability.

The MPA Hate Crime Forum

18. This was originally formed as the London Race Hate Crime Forum in response to the recommendations of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry report in February 1999. Following a review in 2008, the forum was re-launched as the MPA Hate Crime Forum. This multi-agency forum has developed its first draft action plan for delivery, which is cognisant of the recently published cross Government action plan to tackle Hate Crime. The MPS works closely with the MPA Hate Crime forum.

Operation Athena

19. The MPS Operation Athena initiatives have taken place since 2000. These comprise a day of action supporting all aspects of DV and Hate Crime management including arrest operations and partnership events e.g. road shows and promotional events. Since 2006 operations have been conducted twice a year to coincide with the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) in May and in November to coincide with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Woman (White Ribbon Day)

Heartstone

20. The Heartstone organisation is working with the MPS, MPA Hate Crime Forum and a number of London Boroughs to raise awareness of the effects of hate crime through the power of photography and visual images including poster campaigns, workshops, training programmes and other activities. Aimed at 8-18 year olds, the project provides a conduit for greater tolerance and understanding amongst communities. The MPS is assisting the Heartstone Project to officially launch its London project in the very near future.

Specific projects addressing anti-Semitic incidents/crimes

21. As part of the All Party Parliamentary Inquiry into anti-Semitism, the MPS together with the CPS examined all investigations into Anti-Semitic crimes to identify the reasons for the low number of prosecutions. The findings were reported back to the Inquiry and used by the MPS to further inform Standard Operating Procedures, training and tactical advice.

22. The MPS and the Community Security Trust (CST) meet quarterly as part of the ACPO National Communities Tension Team to address trends in Anti-Semitic incidents.

Borough Projects/Activities

23. There are many examples of good practice in boroughs throughout the MPS. These include surgeries run by Safer Neighbourhood Teams and CSU staff.

24. Hounslow Borough's PC Karmi Rekhi won a prestigious community award celebrating multi-cultural Britain in the twenty-first century. PC Rekhi was recognised at the GG2 (Gavari Gujarat) Leadership and Diversity Awards for her work with the community in Hounslow, particularly through her faith surgeries and engagement work.

25. In partnership with other agencies, Croydon Borough has produced a DVD called ‘learning for change’; a school pack covering issues of disability hate crime launched in September 2008. A bespoke Police surgery at a new site has been created. This is dedicated to disability issues. It covers all aspects of Policing, including reporting of hate crimes/incidents.

26. In Wandsworth Borough, each Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) has a nominated disability lead whose task is to take the lead on disability matters, make contact with organisations supporting disabled people and contact disabled people directly at their places of residence. They have made contact with around 60 organisations across the borough.

27. On 1 October 2009 Tower Hamlets and Hackney Borough police participated in a public meeting at a local gay venue to actively seek co-operation in reporting homophobic crime/incidents. This activity received pan London and local media coverage. This work is also being supported by strategic LGBT non-government organisations.

28. Haringey Borough has a Community Engagement Team that is currently working on a new third party reporting site, with drop in clinics and quality assurance by trained SNT link officers.

C. Race and equality impact

1. The MPS is mindful of any adverse impact or disproportionality that may occur as a result of the delivery of its services. In the delivery of its services the MPS fully embraces the need to engage with and consult with the communities and their representatives.

2. The MPS is wholly aware that racist and faith hate crimes /incidents have a disproportionate affect on BME people and people perceived to follow specific religious or faith groups.

3. In addition the MPS is aware that homophobic and transphobic crimes/ incidents directly affect LGBT people and people perceived to be LGBT.

D. Financial implications

There are no financial implications arising as a result of the recommendations in this report.

E. Legal implications

There are no direct legal implications arising from this report.

F. Background papers

• None

G. Contact details

Report author: DCI Gerry Campbell and DI Jim Foley, Violent Crime Directorate.

For information contact:

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

Abbreviations

ACPO

Association of Chief Police Officers

BOCU

Borough Operational Command Unit

CPS

Crown Prosecution Service

CSU

Community Safety Units

DCI

Detective Chief Inspector

IAGs

Independent Advisory Groups

LGBT

Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender

LO

Liaison Officer

MPS

Metropolitan Police Service

NGOs

Non-Government Organisations

OCU

Operational Command Unit

PCSO

Police Community Support Officer

SD

Sanction Detection

SDR

Sanctioned Detection Rate

SMT

Senior Management Team

SNT

Safer Neighbourhood Team

SOP

Standard Operating Procedures

TP

Territorial Policing

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