Community safety accreditation scheme

Report: 4
Date: 21 July 2003
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report sets out MPS proposals to establish a community safety accreditation scheme. Because of uncertainties about workload and demand, a “proof of concept” scheme involving a small number of service providers is the preferred option.

In a related piece of work, the MPS proposes to participate in a Department for Transport pilot to extend the power to stop vehicles to a small number of staff of the Vehicle Inspectorate.

The paper develops on comments contained in the paper “The Extended Policing Family” presented to the Metropolitan Police Authority Meeting on 25 July 2002.

A. Recommendations

The Committee is asked to note the contents of this report and endorse the proposals to introduce a “proof of concept” community safety accreditation scheme.

B. Supporting information

Introduction

1. The purpose of this paper is to update the Authority on progress to develop accreditation as part of the Extended Policing Family Programme, along with related work on Police Community Support Officers. In particular, it outlines the rationale behind the use of a proof of concept study and highlights work with the Department for Transport to introduce an ACPO sponsored trial of the power to stop vehicles with the Vehicle Inspectorate Division of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency.

2. The Police Reform Act 2002 gives the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) the power of accreditation – the ability to enter into arrangements with organisations so that their employees would have limited powers, as described in Schedule 5 of the Act (e.g. measures to deal with anti-social behaviour and carry out vehicle testing and the removal of abandoned vehicles). Accreditation would be administered through a Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS).

3. The MPS has consulted key agencies on its early plans to develop a CSAS – in particular it has written to the Mayor, the Metropolitan Police Authority and every London local authority. Currently, no detailed guidance exists for the establishment of a CSAS – therefore the MPS is playing a leading role in working with the Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers to develop national standards.

4. Research into the introduction of Police Community Support Officers has revealed uncertainty in the public’s minds about the role of the various members of the extended policing family. The MPS will be carrying out work to consult London’s communities on the introduction of the CSAS itself. Further consultation about the accreditation of individual service providers will be carried out in partnership with those service providers.

May add value – not obligatory

5. There is no obligation on the MPS to establish a CSAS – however, it must be considered within the policing plan. Because of the pivotal role played by the MPS in developing the concept of the extended policing family there is an expectation that the MPS will be at the forefront of introducing accreditation.

6. A successful scheme that engages a critical mass of service providers while attaining with the right balance of standards will offer significant improvements to community safety. However, there will be significant set-up costs and given current uncertainty about the level of demand for this service, the MPS does not intend to establish a London wide scheme immediately.

Proof of concept

7. Rather, the MPS intends to run a “proof of concept” exercise by accrediting two or three service providers during the 2003/04 planning year. This will enable us to conduct research into the feasibility of, and demand for, future expansion. This will avoid the risk of committing resources that may be either under-utilised or conversely, so over-subscribed that they are unable to offer a satisfactory service.

8. As a minimum aim, the benefits wrought by the scheme should outweigh the costs (staffing and financial) of managing it – for example in terms of increased intelligence flow, crime reduction and improved reassurance.

9. In due course, it is envisaged that the CSAS would be co-ordinated through a small central office carrying out the following activities:

• Assessment of applications for accreditation and making recommendations to the Commissioner.
• Working with service providers to improve their performance.
• Carrying out policy work.
• Liaison with outside agencies (e.g. Independent Police Complaints Commission).

10. It is anticipated that this office would manage its workload to cope with any London-wide roll out. In particular, the proportion of policy work would decrease with time as the office moved towards a maintenance function. As new business to the organisation, success would depend on the support of the MPS in terms of staff growth and office space.

11. Arrangements with the two or three service providers have not yet been finalised – at this time, Westminster City Council and the Vehicle Inspectorate have been identified as offering a broad diversity of services which would address all aspects of a CSAS.

Vehicle Inspectorate

12. The MPS is participating in a Department for Transport pilot to use accreditation to allow selected Vehicle Inspectorate staff the power to stop vehicles. This project is supported by the Home Secretary and ACPO, and will save the abstraction of police officers to support VI inspections.

13. Because this is a national project involving a Government agency, there is a need for consistent common standards among the forces involved. The MPS has an input into the operating procedures, and will follow the nationally agreed accreditation process which may differ in minor details to the MPS model.

Accreditation process

14. The MPS has developed a five stage process which satisfies the need for an inclusive procedure that reflects the needs of communities as well as statutory partners:

• Publication of standards (e.g. occupational/training, vetting, management expectations, fees).
• Initiation by the applicant.
• Local endorsement (e.g. by the local crime and disorder reduction partnership).
• Central decision (on behalf of the Commissioner).
• Review (including review periods and appeals).

15. In due course, the MPS intends to charge a reasonable cost for accreditation and to hypothecate these fees to recover administrative costs. The level of likely fees is not yet known. Because of the co-operation offered by the proof of concept sites, the MPS will not make any charges for the duration of the study.

16. This five stage process provides a flexible framework and many of the factors merit further work. Judgements on what standards to adopt will form part of the study and it will therefore be necessary to set provisional standards based on current knowledge and expectations.

C. Equality and diversity implications

Establishing a community safety accreditation scheme will increase capacity and professionalism within community based patrolling services. It is hoped that this will create career pathways for staff from disadvantaged communities.

The use of national occupational standards ensures that job-related skills are commensurate and appropriate to the role performed and will avoid unfair disadvantage.

C. Financial implications

The “proof of concept” project will be managed within existing arrangements for the MPS Extended Policing Family Programme. One of the outcomes of the project will be an assessment of likely costs of establishing a London-wide scheme, and will be reported to the Authority in due course.

The Vehicle Inspectorate work will reduce the abstraction of police officers to stop vehicles for the Vehicle Inspectorate. It is estimated that this is the equivalent of two full time police posts each year.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Insp Chris Davers, MPS.

For more information contact:

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

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