Resource Allocation Formula update

Report: 7
Date: 7 December 2006
By: Director of Human Resources on behalf of the Commissioner

Summary

This report provides an update on the application of the revised Resource Allocation Formula (RAF) in 2005/06.

A. Recommendation

That the report be noted.

B. Supporting information

1. Options for the application of the new formula were discussed at the Co-ordination and Policing (CoP) meeting of 11 February 2005 (agenda item 4). Members agreed the structure and weightings of the new formula to be used to allocate police officers between BOCUs, which included a 2% cap to ensure no BOCU lost numbers against its existing Budgeted Workforce Target (BWT).

2. RAF was approved for a three-year period. The Commissioner reported that the Service Review would have a major influence on future resourcing decisions, but that RAF would continue to serve as the principal distribution formula.

Application on police officer allocations

3. Boroughs’ strength was 19,097 on 31 August 2006 (see Appendix 1). It is forecast that boroughs’ strength will be 19,464 on 31 December 2006 compared to the budgeted work force target (BWT) for the 31 December 2005 of 19,168. This shows an overall forecasted over strength position of 296 officers.

4. It should be noted that whilst territorial policing boroughs are forecasted to be over strength on 31 December 2006, five boroughs are forecast to be under strength. These boroughs will receive probationers between January and March and will be boroughs to which priority postings will take place. This will address any under strength position.

5. The BWT increases by 414 to 19,582 on 1 January 2007 reflecting the final increase required for the full implementation of the Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNT). Therefore, there will be 118 vacancies in total on 1 January 2007. These vacancies will be held outside of Safer Neighbourhood Teams.

6. This confirms the position predicted at 1 January 2007 in the Deployment Plan 2006/07 (See Appendix 2). Capacity limits at Hendon preclude an overnight increase of 414 deployable officers to meet the increase required for the safer neighbourhood teams. The Deployment Plan proposed a gradual increase in the over strength position in anticipation of the final roll out with a predicted vacancy position of approximately 100 at 01 January 2007. All safer neighbourhood teams will be filled on 1 January 2007 and the vacancies, held on non-SNT posts, will be filled between January and March 2007.

7. Further recruitment and posting will take place between January and March to ensure these vacancies are filled and territorial policing achieves its full BWT.

8. At present, boroughs are forecast to be at strength by the end of March 2007 as the Deployment Plan increases strength to match BWT.

9. The HR Workforce Planning unit, in conjunction with territorial policing, constantly monitors the individual borough situation and if necessary will take action to address any shortfall and balance resources.

Any changes made, or proposed, to the construction of the formula

10. There have been no changes made to the formula or its application since it was approved by members at the CoP meeting in February. Discussions regarding the re-construction of the formula in the future have yet to commence.

Abbreviations

RAF

Resource Allocation Formula

BOCU

Borough Operational Command Unit

BWT

Budgeted Workforce Target.

C. Race and equality impact

The Deployment Plan 2006/07 informs the recruitment and training plans of the MPS. These plans will increase the police officer BME representation to 8% and the female police officer representation to 21% by 31 March 2007.

D. Financial implications

The 2006/07 MPS budget is sufficient for each Business Group to achieve its approved BWT by 31 March 2007.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Majella Myers – Assistant Director of Recruitment, MPS.

For information contact:

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

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