Consultation on priorities for Policing Plan 2001/02

Report: 8
Date: 24 October 2000
By: Clerk

Summary

This paper summarises consultation carried out to-date, emerging priorities and proposals for further consultation.

A. Supporting information

Consultation to date

1. At its September meeting the CDO Committee agreed that proposals to conduct public and stakeholder consultation would be developed by a joint MPA/MPS working group prior to consideration by the Committee.

2. The working group considered the consultation, audit and analysis undertaken as part of the current planning cycle and noted that some direct and indirect consultation has already been carried out via:

• development of the Mayor’s views on policing priorities;
• development of borough local crime and disorder strategies;
• MPS Customer Satisfaction Survey;
• Public Attitude Survey;
• a letter to MPS BOCU Commanders (requested views from local groups);
• discussion at a recent meeting of PCCG chairs;
• MPS Staff Survey.

3. The issues emerging from this consultation were reported in an MPS paper to the Finance, Planning and Best Value Committee at its meeting on 17 October. In summary, the consultation, audit and analysis conducted to-date suggests (if a maximum of six priorities are set) that these priorities should relate to:

• diversity
• street crime
• recruitment
• drugs
• burglary
• autocrime

4. It is stressed that these priorities emerge from work to-date and may change according to further consultation with Members and with other bodies.

Further consultation in principle

5. Consultation over-and-above that described at paragraph 2 is constrained by time and resources. The MPA will need to decide on its priorities, objectives and targets for 2001/02 in order to support and justify a budget proposal in mid-December. Obviously, this limits what can be done in the rest of this planning year. This is not ideal though the proposals below need to be seen in light of the consultation work already undertaken and the improvements to follow next year as a result of implementing a new consultation strategy.

6. Given current constraints it is considered that existing methods and fora should be used if there is to be cost-effective consultation in the next 6-8 weeks. In other words, the MPA should use existing methods and groups rather than convene a special 'one-off' consultation exercise. On this basis it is considered that additional consultation should take place using:

• the Internet ('e-consultation');
• crime and disorder partnerships and PCCGs.

E-consultation

7. The MPA is already consulting with the public via use of the Internet. This approach can be extended by inviting Internet users to express a view on the emerging priorities as described above (eg: asking people to rank the six priorities). Consultation with crime and disorder partnerships and PCCGs

8. The selection of emerging priorities was, in part, based on an analysis of the 32 crime and disorder strategies implemented across London. Each strategy was itself developed via a process of consultation and MPA consultation with borough-based crime and disorder partnerships would be a cost-effective way of obtaining additional stakeholder views in the limited time available.

9. It is considered that such consultation should be achieved by engagement of MPA Members with the crime and disorder partnership and PCCG for each Member’s geographical area of interest. Under this proposal a letter would be sent to each partnership and PCCG on behalf of the relevant Member:

• outlining emerging priorities;
• proposing a meeting to discuss the priorities with the partnership/PCCG (subject to finding a mutually convenient time);
• requesting written feedback (if a meeting could not be held).

10. In considering this approach Members should note that the MPA has a statutory duty to co-operate with crime and disorder partnerships and to receive co-operation from them. The process suggested would promote engagement between the MPA and local partnerships in London and should encourage further engagement.

11. The dates of partnership and PCCG meetings means it is unlikely that every Member will be able to meet with the relevant groups within the next 6-8 weeks. Therefore, the offer of a ‘substitute’ should also be made (either an MPA or MPS officer) supported by a request for written feedback. In any event, the approach will help discharge the Authority’s obligations to engage with partnerships and to ensure the Policing and Performance Plan reflects crime and disorder strategies.

B. Recommendations

1. Further ‘e-consultation’ is conducted using the Internet to obtain public views on emerging priorities [paragraph 7].
2. Members write to local crime and disorder partnerships and PCCGs to propose a meeting to discuss emerging priorities with stakeholders and/or to request written feedback on emerging priorities [paragraph 9].

C. Financial implications

Meetings between Members and crime and disorder partnerships/PCCGs would be subject to the financial protocols relating to Members’ allowances.

D. Review arrangements

Written or verbal feedback from crime and disorder partnerships/PCCGs would be incorporated into the draft Policing and Performance Plan 2001/02 for consideration by Members. The plan must describe how consultation was conducted.

E. Background papers

The following is a statutory list of background papers (under the Local Government Act 1972 S.100 D) which disclose facts or matters on which the report is based and which have been relied on to a material extent in preparing this report. They are available on request to either the contact officer listed below or to the Clerk to the Police Authority at the address indicated on the agenda.

F. Contact details

The authors of this report are Derrick Norton.

For information contact:

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

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