MPS implementation update - Bichard

Report: 5
Date: 10 June 2005
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report provides a summary update on the MPS progress against the Bichard Inquiry. The report focuses on those recommendations, which have a direct or indirect impact on the MPS.

• Recommendations for MPS: The MPS programme for the Integrated Information Platform (IIP) to support internal and external requirements be developed and supported.
  A business case costing activity which directly meets the Bichard recommendations to be submitted through Change Coordination to the MPS Investment Board.
• Update on Bichard Inquiry Recommendations:
  • Recommendation 1-2: Development of a national IT system. MPS is piloting the first stage of system in June 2004 for three months. Statement of requirement to develop the data warehouse drafted by July 2004. The MPS are not likely to meet the current national deadline of December 2005 for warehousing all mandated data systems.
  • Recommendation 4–8 the PNC bureau. HMIC report due to be published. Project board set up to manage risks associated with the MPS PNC bureau. Action Plan to resolve risks is pending from the project board.
  • Recommendations 8-11 Information Management Codes. The Information Management Codes of Practice will be before parliament in June 2006. MPS dialogue with the National Centre for Policing Excellence (NCPE) and the HMIC indicates that compliance is unlikely to impact on MPS until 06/07. The Directorate of Information (DoI) has built some capacity in terms of the MPS data quality team. An integrated implementation programme for the IM codes of practice is required. It is anticipated that compliance activity will begin from April 2006 and therefore will require funding in financial year 2006/07.
• A business case which costs activity that meets Bichard Inquiry recommendations is being developed

A. Recommendations

That

1. the MPS programme for the Integrated Information Platform (IIP) to support internal and external requirements be developed and supported.
2. A business case costing activity which directly meets the Bichard recommendations to be submitted through Change Coordination to the MPS Investment Board.

B. Supporting information

Summary update on Bichard recommendations

1. The Bichard Inquiry produced a number of recommendations, which will have an impact on how police forces store, manage and exchange information. Whilst the scope of the recommendations will have an impact on how police services operate, no recommendations were allocated to police services to lead on.

2. MPS activity to support the implementation of the Inquiry recommendations has focussed on developing the technology systems to support the national IT programme led by the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO), and reviewing how internal practices governing the storage of information need to be developed and/or adapted to enable the MPS to comply with the information management codes of practice which have been drafted by the National Centre for Policing Excellence and will be followed up with Standard Operating Procedures for practice later this year.

3. This report focuses on those recommendations, which have a direct or indirect impact on the MPS.

Recommendation 1-2: The development of a national IT system

4. This recommendation requires the MPS to support national IT developments including the Cross Regional Intelligence Sharing Platform (CRISP) and Police Local Exchange (PLX). Both systems mandate that each force should make criminal intelligence, crime, custody, domestic violence, firearms and child abuse available nationally. This means the MPS providing data from the Criminal Intelligence System (CRIMINT), Crime Recording Information System (CRIS), Borough Operational Command Units (BOCU) Custody databases, and Firearms Information System.

5. The most viable way for the MPS to provide this information without impacting on the performance of the legacy IT systems is to develop a warehouse capacity for the MPS.

Current progress

6. First generation of the MPS data warehouse (Integrated Information Platform) to be piloted by June 27th 2005 for three months. Evaluation of pilot will be undertaken to test technical and business impact. Statement of Requirement for development of data warehouse post pilot will be developed by July 2005.

7. The MPS are supporting the interim PLX system by providing Registry Management System (RMS) Data on CD–ROM. Significant work has been undertaken, led by the DoI Freedom of Information Act Team to improve the accuracy of the RMS data. This is a partial solution, which has not impacted on the requirement to undertake address-based searches by the MPS Character Enquiry Centre.

Risks

8. Currently the MPS will not be in a position to meet national deadlines set for December 2005. A number of forces have reported a similar position to the Intelligence Management and Prioritisation Analysis Co-ordination and Tasking (IMPACT) Programme at PITO that oversees the implementation of CRISP and PLX. The National ‘Bichard’ Programme Board will meet on the 26th May 2005 to assess the national position with a view to updating every Chief Police Officer in the United Kingdom on the future programme and timescales.

9. The IIP system as it is currently configured for the pilot does not include all the relevant data systems mandated by the CRISP and PLX programmes. The absence of the CRIMINT system in any facility to share information is a significant risk to the organisation. The statement of requirement to develop the warehouse will include CRIMINT/CRIMINT Plus within its scope.

10. Currently the MPS has only allocated funding to support a three months pilot of IIP. Given the technical infrastructure and business processes it will support, funding for operating costs and the development of the system will be required. The business case to support the system will be developed in view of the evaluation. The statement of requirement will inform the development of the IIP in the MPS. The costs of development will be provided as part of this programme of work.

Recommendations 4 - 8: The development of PNC and inputting of PNC data

11. The recommendations refer to supporting the PNC system and ensuring the quality and timeliness of data inputting to support national information sharing. Current technical changes relating to the PNC nationally, alongside the requirement of Bichard and the Criminal Justice Act 2003 have highlighted the limited capacity within the MPS PNC bureau.

Current progress

12. A Project Board has been convened by the lead within SCD to manage the risks and implications of the forthcoming HMIC report. The project board report to the MPS Intelligence Steering Group.

Risks

13. The MPS is likely to receive a challenging HMIC report, which will require investment in the PNC bureau to ensure it is able to deliver to the scope required of it by both Bichard and the Criminal Justice Act 2003. These requirements are currently being scoped.

Recommendations 8-11: The development of the Information Management Codes to cover record creation, review, retention, deletion and information sharing

14. The Information Management (IM) Codes of Practice will be before parliament in June 2006. In the following 6 months between June and December 2006, guidance will be issued to forces on how to meet Codes. MPS dialogue with the National Centre for Policing Excellence (NCPE) and the HMIC indicates that compliance is unlikely to impact on the MPS until 06/07.

Current progress

15. The DoI have built some capacity in terms of the MPS data quality team. An integrated implementation programme for the IM codes of practice is required. It is anticipated that compliance activity will begin from April 2006 and therefore will require funding in financial year 2006/07. DoI currently estimate costs for the implementation of the data quality programme and IM implementation in the region of 9 million to be spent from 06-07 onwards.

16. Consideration of the implications of the IM codes are included in current systems developments to ensure policy on data migration can be aligned to national strategy (for example CRIMINT-Plus).

Risks

17. Business engagement and support to improve data quality and management is crucial to meet the anticipated standards of the IM codes.

18. The programme to support the implementation of the IM codes is likely to require significant training of staff on the implications for practice.

Recommendations 12-14: Reaffirmed guidance in Working Together to Safeguard Children and implications on practice Child Abuse Investigations Command

19. The MPS Child Abuse Investigation Command (CAIC) is monitoring developments within DfES. Working Together is currently being revised and further guidance on this issue is expected. Any proposed changes to legislation will be addressed through the OCU Commander and the Policy Officer.

The Management of the Bichard recommendations in the MPS

20. The responsibility for Bichard has recently been aligned with the Intelligence Standards Unit within the Deputy Commissioner’s Command. The Inquiry recommendations reinforce key areas for delivery which are also managed by the Unit, including guidance for the implementation of the NIM minimum standards, and more recently the business management of IT programmes including IIP and CRIMINT Plus.

21. It is now considered that key work for the Intelligence Standards Unit is to coordinate MPS activity against the recommendations to ensure ongoing programmes of work are cognisant of their obligation in relation to Bichard.

C. Race and equality impact

22. No race and equality implications arise from this report.

D. Financial implications

23. Current focus will be on generating a business case to cost activity which directly supports the implementation of Bichard recommendations.

24. It is acknowledged a range of activity which is undertaken in the MPS is required to support other strategic and business imperatives, but will also meet Bichard recommendations. Communicating the range of business benefits has been recognised as an important part of the programme of work.

E. Background papers

• The Bichard Inquiry - update on MPS progress against Bichard Inquiry Recommendations

F. Contact details

Report author: Nina Cope, MPS.

For more information contact:

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

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