HMIC report: Calling Time on Crime

Report: 6
Date: 23 January 2001
By: Clerk

Summary

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary published its thematic report on the effectiveness of crime and disorder partnerships ‘Calling Time on Crime’ in July 2000. This paper summarises the report’s key points of interest to the CDO Committee and identifies further potential work resulting from this.

A. Supporting information

Introduction

1. Between November 1999 and March 2000, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) conducted a thematic Inspection of the police role in crime and disorder partnerships. Following this inspection, HMIC published ‘Calling Time on Crime’, a report focusing on how central and local government, the police service and other partners are working together to reduce crime and disorder. The introduction of the Crime and Disorder Act and, with it, the creation of statutory partnerships reiterated the view that crime reduction can only be sustained by multi-agency approaches. The main aim of the inspection was to examine how police forces and partners were embracing earlier HMIC and Audit Commission reports on crime reduction and community safety. In doing so, the Inspectorate considered the extent to which the Crime and Disorder Act was being implemented and the support provided by both central and local government to this activity.

2. The findings confirmed that substantial progress had been made in developing and improving local crime reduction efforts, but that there is still a long way to go in ensuring local strategies effectively drive and focus crime reduction activity. A copy of the summary of conclusions is attached at Appendix 1.

3. The remit for the on-going development of crime and disorder partnerships in London principally falls to the CDO Committee. In setting an agenda for action, the HMIC report provides useful reference material upon which to consider future crime and disorder partnership development needs.

4. The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has produced a response to the HMIC report. This outlines the MPS initiatives and progress relating to the actions identified in Calling Time on Crime. The Authority’s response to the Commissioner’s paper will be considered by the Chair’s Co-ordinating and Urgency (CCU) Committee in January. The draft will take account of any policy discussion of the findings at this CDO meeting.

The report’s findings

5. The report sets a context for improved partnership working (Chapter 2). Home Office research suggests an upward tend in crime rates is expected due to predicted economic and demographic changes. It states crime reduction partnerships need to build upon successes in order to resist these pressures.

6. The report outlines the key players who have a significant role to play and describes what they need to do to raise the game to resist these pressures and capitalise on previous partnership success. (Chapter 3)

• The key players identified include central government, government offices for the regions, local authorities, police authorities, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), and non-statutory bodies.
• The report urges police authorities to examine their strategies and plans (particularly the Policing Plan and Best Value Plan) against a set of criteria shown in the report’s appendix. The inspection team were satisfied that strategic intentions were published by most authorities but noted that these were often poorly supported at implementation level.

7. The report then identifies the critical success factors for effective partnerships. (Chapters 4, 5 and 6). In relation to CDO committee, the report points towards the following success factors:

• Effective consultation with local people.
• Problem-solving at local sector and ward level.
• Vision, structure, leadership and joint working.
• Community and voluntary sector engagement.
• Private sector engagement and sponsorship.

Further work

8. Development of local and community consultation is an on-going responsibility for CDO committee. From the report’s recommendations, the CDO committee may in addition choose to:

• Consider the MPS response and seek to review its partnership initiatives.
• Review key consultation, diversity and outreach strategies and their implementation plans against criteria shown in the report.
• Seek a further report identifying how the MPA should build upon the existing framework of local crime and disorder partnerships.

B. Recommendations

To note the HMIC report: ‘Calling Time on Crime’.

C. Financial implications

None specific to this report.

D. Review arrangements

None specific to this report.

E. Background papers

• 'Calling Time on Crime': A Thematic Inspection on Crime and Disorder conducted by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (July 2000).
• Metropolitan Police Service response to Calling Time on Crime (November 2000)

F. Contact details

The author of this report is Jude Sequeira.

For information contact:

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

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback