Cautions for carrying offensive weapons

Report: 8
Date: 4 February 2010
By: Assistant Commissioner Territorial Operations on behalf of the Commissioner

Summary

This report follows discussions and questions following the Commissioner’s Report delivered at the MPA Full Authority Meeting of 26 November, and provides information on the number of cautions delivered by the MPS for offences involving weapon possession. It further summarises the operational approach to preventing the carriage or use of lethal weaponry including the delivery of marketing campaigns to deter weapon carriage. Finally it highlights the value of a clear prosecution policy where attendance at court is appropriate in all but the most exceptional circumstances.

A. Recommendation

That members note the contents of this report and Appendix 1 and make any comments.

B. Supporting information

1. Operation Blunt 2 commenced on 19 May 2008, the strategic aim, approach and objectives of which are set out in Appendix 1. A previous report to the Committee on 4 June 2009 has detailed the strategic approach, tactics and learning from this operation. Marketing campaigns combined with a clear and robust prosecution policy have been key elements of the overall response. There has been ongoing integration of the enforcement response with the wider youth engagement and preventative work pursued under the MPS Youth Strategy. Furthermore, we have increasingly integrated operational responses to knife and gun crime during 2009 as learning has informed our tactics.

2. Tactics to deter the carriage and use of lethal weapons remain central to our strategic approach. A clear and well communicated prosecution policy combined with ongoing communication of the consequences of carrying and using lethal weapons remain central to our response to serious youth violence.

3. Our enforcement response is therefore set within this wider approach of deterrent and operates to ensure that there remains a hostile environment for the small minority who choose to carry and use lethal weapons in public space.

Prosecution policy

4. The MPS Policy and Standing Operating Procedure for knife crime and other offensive weapons was refreshed and re-published in May 2008 following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service. This makes clear the MPS position that, in all but the most exceptional circumstances, those accused of the possession of knives or guns, or crimes involving the use of these lethal weapons, should be charged and attend court. The MPS Policy reflects continuing widespread concern at the presence and use of knives and guns on our streets. This is preventative legislation that is enforced by the MPS with a clear intention to prevent loss of life.

5. The Policy and Standing Operating Procedure have been further highlighted to staff on several occasions since May 2008 to ensure appropriate scrutiny and review remains in place. There continues to be daily review of cautions for knife possession and knife crime combined with central daily and weekly monitoring to identify trends of concern.

6. Members should note that there will always be a range of factors taken into account when determining the most appropriate case disposal. There are a wide range of weaponry and incident types that will fall into definitions of knife crime and gun crime. There is also a clear desire to avoid criminalising young people where the circumstances indicate nothing more than ill-advised behaviour with no threat to themselves or others.

7. Recent data shows that some 90% of 3214 persons accused of knife crime have been charged and appeared in court (Year to November 2009). Exceptional cases have related to persons in the UK for short periods and who are ignorant of UK legislation regarding knife possession. It will not be in the public interest to mount a prosecution in such cases where the individual leaves the UK in a few days and any repetition is unlikely.

8. Offensive weapons cover a broader range of weapon types beyond knives to include, for example planks of wood, sticks, belts and similar articles that are made, adapted or intended to cause injury. This type of weaponry is less lethal than knives or real firearms. In this broader category 81% of 4394 persons accused were charged to appear in court (Year to November 2009). This compares with 80% in the year to November 2008.

9. The MPS does not routinely collate details of all knives and other offensive weapons seized. Seizures will be highlighted for Operation Blunt 2 and forensic examination on a case by case basis. Firearms are recorded to identify weapons trends and ensure all forensic opportunities are exploited.

Table 1: Knife Crime Case Disposals - Year to November 2008

Table 2: Knife Crime Case Disposals - Year to November 2009

Table 3: Offensive Weapon case Disposals - Year to November 2008

Table 4: Offensive Weapon Case Disposals - Year to November 2009

Table 5: Knife Possession case Disposals - Year to November 2008

Table 6: Knife Possession Case Disposals - Year to November 2009

There was one offence recorded against by individual of unknown gender. A column has not been shown for this individual as it would not aid in displaying the data on the page.

Communication and marketing

10. The delivery of communication and marketing to deter weapon carriage and use combines central MPS and Borough Commands with a range of other delivery from the Home Office, local authorities and community programmes. The MPS seeks to deliver universal and targeted campaigns that are scheduled throughout the year according to risk and linked to operational delivery. The MPS communication will continue to highlight the consequences arising from the carriage and use of lethal weaponry. The focus will remain on deterrent whilst seeking assistance in detecting and recovering weaponry.

11. Operation Trident and Operation Blunt have been supported by several significant MPS campaigns in recent years. Each central campaign delivered by the Directorate of Public Affairs is subject to significant external scrutiny and advice throughout its conception, planning, delivery and review. This includes exposure to Independent Advisory Groups and specific focus groups drawn from the target audience.

12. The Anti-Knife Campaign that supported Blunt 2 during July and August 2009 was well received by the target audience of young men aged 13-15. The campaign featured an interactive You Tube film sequences supported by TV and radio trailers. Independent tracking shows that 81% of those asked had seen at least one element of the campaign. This is higher than any other MPS campaign in the last two years. In addition 257,000 unique users viewed the You Tube film and more than two million people visited the website. The cost of the campaign was £190,000. This campaign has subsequently attracted national awards from the industry.

13. This year’s Trident advertising campaign, produced by the DPA, working with the Trident OCU and IAG, successfully engaged young African/African-Caribbean women and the wider African/African- Caribbean community. The campaign raised awareness of the increasing number of young women carrying and hiding guns on behalf of others.

14. Evaluation shows 58% of respondents recalling at least one element of the campaign and good levels of understanding of the key messages. The website linked to this campaign won an Association of Police Public Relations Officers award. The cost of this campaign was £192,000.

Operational Plans

15. Preventing serious youth violence remains a priority for the MPS. Ongoing operational review indicates that the focus upon lethal weaponry will remain important in reducing youth homicide and serious injury.

16. Operation Blunt 2 will continue during 2010 subject to ongoing operational review through MPS Tasking and Co-ordination structures.

C. Race and equality impact

17. Operational delivery under Blunt 2 is subject to an existing Equality Impact Assessment and monitoring continues to assess, review and mitigate any disproportionate impact of policing operations. Daily and weekly community tension monitoring remains in place to detect and respond to community concerns.

D. Financial implications

18. The operational delivery highlighted in this report is currently funded within approved, existing budgets. There are no new financial implications for the Authority.

E. Legal implications

19. There are no legal implications arising from the contents of this report as this is a performance monitoring report.

F. Environment implications

There are no environmental implications arising from the contents of this report.

F. Background papers

None

G. Contact details

Report author: T/Chief Superintendent David Chinchen, Territorial Policing Crime OCU

For information contact:

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

Appendix 1

Operation Blunt 2

Strategic intention

Operation Blunt 2 as the following strategic intention:

• To stop the killing of young people on the streets of London;
• To reduce serious violence involving young people as victims and offenders;
• To reduce the carrying of weapons by young people on the streets of London;
• To maintain the support of communities and young people for police action to reduce youth violence.

Strategic approach

The strategic approach continues to focus upon weaponry together with people and places (times) that represent a greater risk of serious youth violence. The approach is intended to:

• create and maintain an environment that is hostile to the routine acquisition, carriage and use of lethal weapons in public space;
• arrest, prosecute and convict individuals who commit violent crime, whether as individuals or as part of groups (gangs);
• prevent youth victimisation and increase confidence through targeted deployments in areas and at times of greatest risk;
• deliver a clear MPS lead on enforcement, ensuring that tactics recognise and respond to the concerns and expectations of the community, including young people.

Tactical delivery

Operational tactics comprise:

• Increased fixed and flexible search deployments and security measures to restrict knife carriage – educational establishments, entertainment and leisure venues, transport infrastructure and public space events;
• Intelligence led stop and search operations targeting specific individuals, groups, areas, events, venues, town centres and transport hubs/routes;
• Targeted enforcement operations to disrupt and prevent violence perpetrated by violent individuals and groups (gangs);
• Disruption of knife supply through intelligence-led ground searches (neighbourhood weapon sweeps) and enforcement of existing retail sale supply legislation (including internet

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