Step Change Programme - managing further expansion of the MPS

Report: 4
Date: 01 September 2003
By: Commissioner

Summary

The report updates Members on progress to date with the Step Change Programme, which aims to deliver the joint MPS, MPA and Mayor of London’s vision for MPS growth to 35,000 police and community support officers, with associated, necessary growth in civil support staff.

A. Recommendations

That the Committee

1. notes progress to date with the Step Change Programme
2. notes the further officer growth options (Appendix A), reported to the Step Change Programme Steering Group on 21 July 2003
3. agrees that, in accordance with the reporting timetable set out at Appendix B, the Step Change Programme business case be reported to the Committee on 3 October 2003.

B. Supporting information

Background

1. A report to Co-ordination and Policing Committee on 17 May 2003 described the progress to date with the Step Change Programme (SCP).

2. A number of key events and meetings have taken place since the last update to the Committee. This report updates the Committee of these key events to date, and includes a copy of the Summary Highlight Report and further growth options that were reported to the last meeting of Step Change Programme Steering Group on 21 July 2003.

Key Events since the last report to the Committee

3. The Mayor’s Budget Guidance was issued to functional bodies of the GLA on 30 May 2003. In his guidance, the Mayor set out a policy objective for the MPA of:

“Development of options and supporting implementation plans and costings for increasing police numbers to 35,000 over the next 3 to 5 year period”

4. However, on the issue of funding, the Mayor’s guidance stated that:

“Discussions are continuing with the MPA about the strategy and options for increasing police numbers to 35,000 over the next 3 to 5 years. The Mayor will be seeking further support from government for funding these proposals and may issue further budget guidance to the MPA following these discussions.”

5. A series of informal and formal meetings have subsequently taken place between various officers from the GLA, MPA and MPS to seek further clarification of the Mayor’s intentions for funding the Step Change Programme. No further official guidance has been received at this stage.

6. A meeting of the Mayor’s Budget Steering Group was held on 9 July 2003, and this was attended by both MPA Chairs and officers as well as representatives from the MPS. The funding of the Step Change Programme was discussed in the context of the wider budget and funding options specified by the Mayor in his budget guidance.

7. The SCP Steering Group met on 21 July 2003, and considered a report on roll-out options of officer growth being considered by the MPS. These options are set out at Appendix A for information.

8. The SCP Steering Group endorsed an approach that the business case should set out the most appropriate roll out programme of officer growth. This roll out programme should take account of operational priorities, recruitment and deployment practicalities, as well as likely affordability.

Programme progress

9. Whilst the discussions have continued over funding of the Step Change Programme, the MPS has continued to press on with the development of a business case for growth in officer numbers and an implementation roll out plan, including resource and cost implications.

10. The SCP Steering Group received a summary highlight report of actual and planned key events and milestones at their meeting on 21 July 2003. A copy of the report is attached at Appendix B for information.

11. A key deliverable of the Step Change Programme over the coming weeks is the business case for growth. The business case is actively being developed, but will include the following components:

• The rationale for 35,000 officers, including
• The case for Community Based Policing, including development of performance data to measure success and benefits, and
• The need for expansion of officer numbers across the MPS to support community based policing and to tackle other crime growth
• The roll out options for growth in officer numbers
• The opportunity to ‘contribute’ to the necessary increase required in police numbers by a targeted civilianisation programme
• The resource and cost implications of officer growth, including the infrastructure and other ‘step change’ impacts of growth
• The other benefits, constraints and risks to the Step Change Programme

12. The timetable set out at Appendix B proposes reporting and shaping of the Step Change Programme business case through the various working, oversight groups and Committees to conform to the governance arrangements approved by this Committee on 17 February 2003.

13. The timetable at Appendix B, which needs to in part reflect deadlines set by the Medium Term Financial Plan and 2004/05 Budget Submission process, envisages the business case coming to the Co-ordination and Policing Committee on 3 October 2003 for consideration. Considerable co-ordination work has been undertaken within the MPS to ensure that the SCP and the wider Medium Term Financial Plan are ‘joined up’ and, crucially, start to put the necessary framework in place to enable business and financial planning to be aligned.

14. After consideration of the Step Change Programme business case by Co-ordination and Policing Committee on 3 October 2003, the approved costs of the SCP will then be considered as part of the overall MPA/MPS Medium Term Financial Plan and 2004/05 Budget at Finance Committee on 13 October 2003.

C. Equality and diversity implications

This review will have regard to the equal opportunity and diversity policies of the MPA and MPS at every stage.

D. Financial implications

The costs of the review will be contained within existing budgets including an allocation from the Efficiency and Effectiveness review programme funding. A key outcome of the review will be an assessment of the financial implications of future expansion.

E. Background papers

• MPA CoP Committee Report 17 May 2003
• Mayor’s Budget Guidance 2004/05
• SCP Steering Group minutes 21 July 2003

F. Contact details

Report author: Martin Chatfield, Step Change Programme Co-ordination Team, MPS.

For more information contact:

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

Appendix A

Further officer growth options (including Ward roll out and ‘complementary and other crime growth’ assumptions) reported to SCP Steering Group 21st July 2003

Appendix B

Step Change Programme - Steering Group highlight report

21st July 2003

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