Step Change Programme: Business case for growth in the Metropolitan Police Service 2005-6

Report: 6
Date: 11 October 2004
By: Commissioner

Summary

In 2004/05 the MPS initiated a Step Change Programme which provided Community Based Policing Teams in 96 Neighbourhoods and growth in the supporting infrastructure. The cost in 2004/05 was £26.6m, building to £42.3m in a full year and this is provided for in the Medium Term Financial Plan. This paper examines options for the second stage of the Step Change Programme (2005/06).

This report should be read in conjunction with the 2005/06 draft revenue budget submission elsewhere on the agenda. The draft revenue budget submission identifies that further savings or reductions in spending proposals will need to be identified to allow the continued expansion of the Step Change Programme.

The overall position will be reviewed following the announcement of the provisional grant settlement in November. The draft submission is to be approved by the full Authority on 28 October and the final submission after the grant settlement at the Authority’s meeting on 7 December.

A. Recommendation

1. Members are asked to review the attached Step Change Programme Business Case for Growth in the Metropolitan Police Service 2005-6 and suggest any amendments at this stage

B. Supporting information

Introduction

1. The Step Change Programme is a four year programme of growth in the Metropolitan Police Service which will create 624 Safer Neighbourhoods and eventually build to a strength of 35,000 police officers and PCSOs. The programme also provides for supporting growth in the organisation’s infrastructure.

2. In 2004/05 the first 96 Safer Neighbourhood Teams have been rolled out, at a cost of £26.6m (£42.3m full year).

3. The original four-year business case was approved in principle in November 2003 and proposed a further expansion of 176 Safer Neighbourhood Teams in 2005/06. The costs of this option is identified as £64m in 2005/06 (Appendix 1)

4. The report also examines an option to roll out 160 Safer Neighbourhood Teams on 01/04/05 with other Police Officer growth reduced in 2005/06 and re-phased. The cost of this option is identified as £46.6m in 2005/06 (Appendix 2)

5. Finally, the report examines an option to roll out 160 Safer Neighbourhood Teams on 01/04/05 with no other police Officer growth in 2005/06. The cost of this option is identified as £45.0m in 2005/06 (Appendix 3)

6. The differences between the 3 options are identified in more detail in the conclusions on page 38 of the report.

7. If the expansion of the Step Change Programme is to continue, funding will need to be included in the 2005/06 draft budget which is due to be submitted to the Mayor by 8 November 2004. The submission will therefore have to be approved by the full Authority on 28 October. The submission will be reviewed following the provisional grant settlement, expected to be announced around mid November, and finalised at the Authority meeting on 7 December 2004.

C. Equality and diversity implications

These are addressed explicitly through the separate equalities and budget submission which will be considered by the Authority at its October meeting.

D. Financial implications

The budget will set the approved framework for expenditure and income during 2005/06.

E. Background papers

• MPS Step Change Programme working papers

F. Contact details

Report author: Chief Superintendent Ian Dyson Chief Inspector Clive Wakeley

For information contact:

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

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback