Annual review of the schedule of fees and charges

Report: 06
Date: 20 January 2005
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report sets out information on Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) fees and charges. It also provides details of charges for the detention of prisoners in MPS cell accommodation and for special services of police. It includes recommendations in respect of charging event organisers for the policing of charitable events applying different approaches to charging dependent upon the nature of the charity event.

A. Recommendation

That

1. Members approve the attached schedule of fees and charges inclusive of charges for the special services of police.
2. Endorse the alignment of MPS fees and charges with those published in the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Guidance on Charging for Police Services where the ACPO fees are currently higher than MPS fees and charges.
3. Endorse the proposal by MPS Resource Approval Committee to allow specific MPS charges to mark time until such time as ACPO fees reach the same level or are reviewed nationally in 2005 to accommodate the recommendation from ACPO Cabinet Office for the achievement of harmonisation across Forces.
4. Endorse the introduction of an overtime premium to the charges for special services of police as recommended to all Forces within the ACPO Guidance on Charging for Police Services. In order to mitigate the impact upon event organisers, it is recommended the increase resulting from the revision to the charges be phased in over 3 years.
5. Endorse the adoption of employers’ pension liability charges and general administrative overhead recovery charge at a rate recommended by ACPO in the Guidance on Charging for Police Services. In order to mitigate the impact upon the MPS, it is recommended the harmonised charges be phased in over three years.
6. Endorse the approach for charging for the policing of charitable events as follows:
   • “Pure” Charitable Events – No Charge
   • Registered Charities and Commercial Participators:
     • Events with Corporate Hospitality – Charge for the policing of the corporate hospitality
     • No Corporate Hospitality – No Charge
   • Donations to Charities from Proceeds of Commercial Events – Full Charge.

B. Supporting information

Introduction

1. As stipulated within the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) Financial Regulations and Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Financial Instructions, there is a requirement for the Commissioner to review scales of fees and charges at least annually. The charges are calculated on the basis of recovery of full costs except where regulations/legislation require otherwise or with the express approval of the MPA.

2. The Commissioner has delegated the responsibility for undertaking the annual review to the Director of Finance.

General Fees and Charges (Background)

3. The general fees and charges for the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) can be classified under a number of specific categories. They are:

• MPS calculated fees and charges;
• Fees as advised by other Agencies;
• Fees and charges as detailed within statute or legislation.

4. MPS Calculated Fees/Charges cover:

• Charges for the provision of copy documents, audio tapes and video tapes requested by solicitors, etc. required for civil proceedings;
• Charges relating to the recovery of the cost of officers seconded to other organisations and the cost of paying non MPA personnel through MPS payroll services;
• Charges for detaining prisoners in MPS cell accommodation;
• Charges for the special services of police.

5. Charges As Advised By Other Agencies cover those costs as advised by Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and include:

• The cost of providing additional copies of audio taped interviews;
• Charges for the taking of fingerprints for members of the public in relation to visa and passport applications;
• The cost of the registration fee made to the MPS Security Systems Section for intruder alarm registration.

6. Charges Set By Statute Or Legislation include:

• The fee to be paid for the issue of a special order of exemption as set out in The Licensing (Fees) (Amendment) Order 1996;
• The fee to be paid for the issue of a pedlars' certificate as stated within The Pedlars' Certificates (Variation of Fee) Order 1985;
• The fee to be paid in relation to the restoration of a stray dog as set out in The Environmental Protection (Stray Dogs) Regulations 1992;
• The fee to be paid in relation to a search under the Data Protection Act 1998;
• The fee to be paid in relation to costs that arise in the retrieval of information under Freedom of Information Act 2000;
• The variety of fees charged for the grant of firearms/shotguns etc. as detailed within legislation such as the Firearms (Variation of Fees) Order of 1990 and 2000 and also within the Museum (Firearms Amendment Act 1988);
• The fees charged for removal and storage of vehicles removed under the powers granted to police by the Removal and Disposal of Vehicles Regulations 1986.

7. Appendix 1 to this report provides a comprehensive list of the fees and charges as per the above categories. It illustrates where the MPS will be adopting those fees and charges recommended in the ACPO Guidance on Charging for Police Services and where MPS fees and charges will mark time to allow ACPO recommended charges to harmonise. The charges will be effective from 1 April 2005.

Review of Charges for 2005-2006

8. The schedule of fees and charges for 2005-2006 have been reviewed within a background of work undertaken by the ACPO Finance and Resources Business Area to produce formal guidance on charging for police services. The Director of Finance with the West Midlands Police, the ACPO lead on this issue, has recently concluded this work. It has been produced with the aim of providing Forces with sound and robust methodology for recovering costs and charging for its services that is both transparent and consistent.

9. A paper “ACPO Guidance on Charging for Police Services” received formal endorsement by ACPO Cabinet in October 2004 and further endorsement of this paper through the ACPO Chief Constables’ Council and the Association of Police Authorities will be canvassed. The MPS have played a large part in the ACPO review with many of our proposals being included.

ACPO Recommendation for Common Fees and Charges

10. The ACPO Guidance includes the recommendation on the use of common fees and charges across police forces for the provision of copy documentation in road traffic accidents, undertaking searches for limited particulars (i.e. information relating to insurance, drivers in road traffic accidents etc). This entails Forces adopting the common charges, as recommended by ACPO, with effect from 1 April 2005.

11. ACPO’s reasoning for common charges across police forces is that it can be difficult for third parties to understand why forces have widely varying costs for, say, the provision of Road Traffic Information. This can create an overall problem for the police service, in terms of credibility to sections of the business or other communities.

12. ACPO believe a consistent approach across forces would be invaluable in improving the credibility around the charges made for the copy information to third parties. This consistency would be achieved if forces were prepared to align their fees and charges with those recommended by ACPO.

13. In order to accommodate concerns from forces, which have higher charges than those recommended by ACPO, ACPO have indicated there will be a major review in 2005 across all forces, driven by ACPO, to provide robust information about the cost to forces of providing such information. ACPO anticipate that such charges will increase significantly once this review is completed especially as many Forces have not reviewed their charges for over a decade.

Impact upon the MPS

14. The impact of aligning MPS fees and charges to those recommended by the ACPO Guidance has been discussed within MPS Finance Services and with the MPA Treasurer. The recommendation from the MPS is that where the current MPS fees and charges are lower than the ACPO recommended charges or where the MPS does not currently charge for the product the charge will be introduced into the schedule of MPS fees and charges with effect from 1 April 2005.

15. In those circumstances where the charge levied by the MPS is currently higher than that recommended by ACPO the MPS are recommending that the MPS charges mark time until such time as the ACPO recommended charges harmonise. Although this is contrary to the ACPO view, (which is that the charges should be reduced pending the review next year at which point they are likely to increase again), the MPS view is that the MPS charges are based upon recent real cost reviews and a reduction is unnecessary sending confusing messages to those that pay the charges.

16. The schedule of common charges in the ACPO Guidance is not exhaustive and there are a number of charges listed previously in the MPS schedule, which do not feature in the ACPO schedule. For example fees in respect of payroll administration, have been increased using estimated retail price inflation of 3%. In respect of the cost per page of photocopying medical reports and personnel records, there was a substantial increase to the charge applied from 1 April 2004 and it is considered inappropriate to further increase the charge with effect from 1 April 2005. The position will be reviewed for the annual review of fees and charges from the 1 April 2006.

17. The one area of work that is in progress that has yet to be concluded, is in respect of the administration charge, representing corporate overheads, included as part of the recovery of the cost of officers seconded to other organisations. MPS Finance Services have undertaken a major review of corporate overheads, using financial data within the MPS Budget Book for 2004-2005, to assist in calculating appropriate recharges to external agencies for the provision of policing services. As part of the review, consideration is being given to the administration charge (corporate overheads) made upon other agencies for the provision of seconded officers.

18. In conjunction with Human Resources Directorate, MPS Finance Services will discuss with those agencies that employ MPS secondees before a revised administration fee in relation to seconded officers is introduced. The current fee of £268.42 per officer per month (£3,221 per officer per annum) will be maintained until the conclusion of these discussions and MPA Finance Committee will be advised of the outcome of these discussions in due course.

Charges for Detention of Prisoners in MPS Cell Accommodation

19. The MPS works closely with other agencies such as the Immigration Service, in relation to the accommodation of their prisoners in MPS cells until such time as they can be handed over to the relevant agency. The co-operation between the MPS and the Immigration Service is encapsulated in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

20. The original MOU commenced in November 2002 but was revised from 24 November 2003. The MOU is primarily an operational arrangement but also incorporates long-standing arrangements for recovering the cost of detaining Immigration Service prisoners.

21. The current charges are with effect from 1 April 2004 and the charges agreed with the Immigration Services recover the full cost of the MPS resources deployed and therefore are to be used as a basis for charging other agencies who lodge their prisoners in MPS cell accommodation.

22. MPS Finance Services had undertaken research to establish whether the current cost of cleaning, heating, lighting and maintaining cells included as part of the charges for the use of MPS cell accommodation represented the full economic cost to the MPS of providing this service. The information from MPS Property Services is that the charge of £8.50 represents a reasonable estimate, given the variation in the amount of cleaning required, of the full economic cost of this service provision.

23. Appendix 2 to this report provides detailed explanation of the methodology used to calculate these specific charges.

Charges for Special Services for Police

24. The MPS provides policing services within private premises, such as sporting stadia and also in the provision of assistance for activities including film-making and traffic surveys. These policing services fall within the remit of Section 25 of the Police Act 1996, which allows the recovery of costs of such special services.

25. The MPS make charges for these special services, which are designed to recover full costs. The level of charges is subject to the approval of Members. The daily and hourly rates for police officers and police staff are calculated to ensure the cost recovery of direct pay costs and also incorporate a general administrative overhead recovery charge to recover non-pay and overhead costs.

26. The charges for special services have been considered and revised in light of recent work by the MPA on the development of policy in respect of charging for policing of events and similar work undertaken by ACPO.

Charging for Policing Events – Report by Treasurer to MPA Co-Ordination and Policing Committee

27. The Treasurer presented a report on charging for policing of events to the meeting of the Co-ordination and Policing (COP) Committee on 19 July 2004. In the report, the Treasurer referred to the production of revised charges, which reflect the assumption that chargeable events are policed by resources additional to the normal duty time resource required to police the community. This means that such charges should carry an overtime premium as a matter of course.

28. As mentioned above, ACPO Cabinet have recently endorsed the ACPO Guidance on charging for police services which recommended that an overtime premium, based on 50% of average basic salary, should be included as part of the charges for the special services.

29. The revised MPS charges include this overtime premium for those ranks that are allowed to incur paid overtime. It is recognised that the inclusion of an overtime premium would result in a significant increase to users of policing services and as such it is proposed that the increases will be phased in over three years to avoid an unreasonable burden on event organisers. This mirrors the timescales suggested by the ACPO Guidance.

30. The Treasurer’s report to Committee also commented upon an unresolved issue as to how the issues raised in paragraph 28 above should be reflected in respect of ranks that are not entitled to overtime (Inspectors and above). The MPA were looking to the ACPO Guidance to provide some direction as to how this issue might be resolved.

31. The ACPO Guidance does not provide the required resolution and there are no indications ACPO are currently looking to undertake further research to resolve the issue. The approach that has been taken within the ACPO Guidance is to limit the issue, as within their charging methodology for special services, only the hourly cost of an Inspector is lower than that of a Sergeant because of the overtime premium. The hourly costs for more senior officers are higher.

32. The ACPO guidance recommends amendments to the percentage rates for employers pension liability for police officers and the general administrative overhead recovery charge. These are covered below:

Employers’ Pension Liability Charges

33. In respect of employers pension liability charges for police officers, ACPO have received latest advice from HM Treasury Government Actuary Department (GAD) which identifies the in year service cost of pensions at 36% of the police pay budget. Allowing for the 11% pay contributions from officers, a recovery rate of 25% should be used. The MPS currently use a rate of 27%. The charges for special services of police that require the approval of Members have been calculated inclusive of a rate of 27%. However, MPS Finance Services propose to adopt the ACPO recommendation by phasing in the new rate over the proposed three-year harmonisation period.

34. It should be noted that, as from April 2006, there will be actual employers pension contribution rates for police officers. These may differ from the current GAD advice of 25% and although the MPS would pursue the three year harmonisation period as proposed, there will be a need to adopt actual employers pension contribution rates once they come into force.

General Administrative Overhead Recovery Rate

35. In respect of the general administrative overhead recovery rate, ACPO are recommending a rate of 29% of direct costs. The MPS currently use a rate of 31%. The MPS are recommending that the current MPS overhead recovery rate of 31% should be used in the recommended charges for special services of police . It is proposed however, that the MPS look to ultimately adopt the ACPO rate phasing it in over the proposed three-year harmonisation period.

Enhanced Vehicle Rates for Coaches and Horse Boxes

36. MPS Transport Services have provided enhanced information on the special service charges in relation to the provision of vehicles to third parties that the MPS has had to hire to fulfil its policing requirements at a specific event.

37. Historically, MPS charges for special services have included costs per day for both MPS fleet vehicles and for those occasions when the MPS has had to hire vehicles, such as coaches, catering vans and horseboxes to deploy resources.

38. MPS Transport Services have been able to provide a number of variable charges to be included in the proposed special service charges for the use of the vehicle at specific periods during a day and also extra costs incurred by the MPS for the distance the vehicles have travelled during the hire period.

39. Appendix 3 to this report details the charges for the Special Services of Police that are subject to the approval of Members. .

Charges As Advised By Other Agencies

40. ACPO have advised the cost of fingerprints will remain the same at £20 for the first set and £10 for subsequent sets. However, an audiotape is to increase from £20 to £25 whilst the cost of the fee for intruder alarm registration is to increase from £30 to £35.

41. The increase in the charge for additional copies of audio taped interviews will be with effect from 1 April 2005. However, ACPO have advised that the increased charge for intruder alarm registration would be effective from 1 January 2005. MPS documentation has been adjusted to reflect this new charge.

Charges that are set by Statute or Legislation.

42. MPS Finance Services has confirmed with the Home Office and other Government Departments that the legislation, which sets fees as stated within paragraph 6, is still current.

43. MPS Finance Services have developed links with other parties to ensure that they keep us informed of any changes to stated fees through amendments to current legislation, etc. Finance Committee will be advised of any such changes as appropriate.

44. MPS Finance Services have approached Home Office to progress an issue identified in the annual review of fees and charges for 2004-2005. On 20 November 2003, the Finance Committee noted that Finance Services were to initiate further discussion with other agencies, concerned with the drafting of legislation on fees and charges. The purpose of this discussion was to encourage the principle of full cost recovery as the base for such charges and with a view to reducing the bureaucracy involved in administering said processes.

45. The response from the Home Office was that they recognise that certain fees, set by legislation, are long standing and may not truly reflect the actual cost of administering said processes. However, this needs to be balanced with the difficulty in obtaining sufficient time to successfully allow the transit of amended legislation through a busy parliamentary schedule.

MPA Policy On Charging For Policing Private Events – Charity Events

46. In the report presented to the Co-ordination and Policing Committee by the Treasurer on 19 July 2004, one of the recommendations adopted by the Committee was that there should be no charge for the policing of charity events on the basis that an event is charitable. The MPA approach differs from recent ACPO guidance on charging for police services in that the ACPO guidance advises Forces to charge for the policing of an event, regardless of the nature of the event. ACPO are aware that the MPA approach is different.

47. The MPA Treasurer’s paper provided a definition of a charity event. In respect of charity event the definition was “In this case there is financial gain but for non-profit charitable distribution”.

48. MPS Finance Services have undertaken research to establish how organisations gain charitable status. This is of use when considering applications for a charge to be waived by the organisers of an event on the basis that an event is charitable.

Types of Charitable Events

49. Our research indicates charity events fall into possibly three distinct areas:

• Charitable events where a significant proportion of the proceeds is directed toward the aims of the charity.
• Charitable events where a significant proportion of the proceeds is directed towards the aims of the charity but which contains commercial activities, at the venue, such as corporate hospitality where sponsors of events may gain a commercial benefit i.e. publicity.
• Events which are organised by commercial organisations but which have indicated that there will be a contribution to a charity/charities from the proceeds from the event.

“Pure” Charitable Events

50. An event such as the London Marathon that provides a large fundraising opportunity for various charities would be considered to be a “pure” charitable event. Information from the organisation’s website reveals that one third of the total amount of places offered to runners comes from charities that are awarded guaranteed places.

51. Although third parties may organise corporate hospitality within the proximity of a charity event, there is no direct linkage between the event and the third parties. For instance, a number of companies berth barges on the River Thames, adjacent to the route of the Marathon, to allow paying customers to have a better vantage point to watch the event.

Charitable Events – Registered Charities and Commercial Participators

52. These are events where the event is organised by a registered charity/commercial participator partnership.

53. The normal practice is for the commercial participator to sponsor the charity event. The sponsorship will require the charity accepting payment from the business, either through donating a fixed amount or a percentage of the “royalties”, in return for advertising the business’s support.

54. This advertising can involve:

• Hospitality given to the sponsor at an event.
• Display of the sponsor’s name and logo at an event put on by the charity that could be for fundraising purposes or in fulfilment of its primary purpose (e.g. a concert by a charitable coral society).

55. However, currently the existing legislation does not provide guidance on what amount/percentage is acceptable, only that it should be significant.

Commercial Events where Event Organisers have advised there will be a Donation to Charity from the Proceeds

56. There may be occasions, where a commercial organisation organises an event such as a film premiere or a store opening in which there is an indication that part of the proceeds of the event will go towards a charity. This may involve an invitation to charities to attend to make collections from those attending the event.

57. However, as there is no formal arrangement between the commercial organisation and the charity/charities in question in respect of these charitable activities or contribution, the emphasis is on the commercial promotion rather than the aims of the charity or charities.

Decision on Charging

58. In respect of “pure” charitable events, it is clear that all the proceeds from the event are directed toward non-profit charitable distribution. It can be envisaged that events organised by charities such as Cancer Research UK, Oxfam, Royal National Lifeboat Institution etc. would fall into “pure” charitable events where there would be no charge for the policing of the event.

59. There would be also be a no charge ruling for those events organised by charitable organisations, where the perception is that the charity has charitable aims which appear to sit outside of high profile emotive charitable areas such as health and medicine etc.

60. In respect of events where the arrangements involve a registered charity/commercial participators partnership, where the policing of such an event was required in relation to attendance at the corporate hospitality aspects outside of the main charity event, it may be appropriate to only charge for the policing of the corporate hospitality.

61. Where corporate hospitality is not an issue, there should be no charge for the policing of the event undertaken by a registered charity/commercial participator partnership once the event organiser has provided clear evidence that the legal requirements as required by Part II of the Charities Act 1992 are in place.

62. In respect of commercial events, where the event organiser has advised police that there will be a donation to charity as part of the arrangements surrounding film premiers, store openings or similar commercial promotional events, event organisers would be advised that the this would not be considered to be a charity event. The charge for policing would be based on the full cost of the police resources deployed to manage public safety and the potential of disorder.

63. On every occasion that police are requested to charge for the policing of a charity event, there should be due consideration to above criteria on whether it is appropriate to charge the full cost of policing or to request a contribution toward the policing costs. On many occasions due to the nature of the event there will be no charge for policing.

64. The information above attempts to give guidance about the approach to take when making decisions to charge for the policing of charity events or when event organisers state that the event is charitable in nature.

65. However, it is not exhaustive and there may be occasions when Borough Operational Command Units (BOCUs) will need to discuss their decisions with MPS Finance Services. This may require input at a senior level within the MPS or through the MPA.

66. A recent decision making exercise to consider the appropriateness of charging the event organisers of the Chelsea Flower Show 2005 (the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) – a registered charity) for the policing of this event was made less complicated as a result of successful discussions with the event organisers and the local BOCU.

67. The RHS offered to make a contribution toward the policing of the event in respect of the corporate hospitality at the event and this successful outcome illustrates the importance of having a degree of flexibility when making decisions about charging which can produce a good common sense result.

Next Steps

68. Subject to Finance Committee approval, MPS Finance Services will ensure the schedule of fees and charges is promulgated throughout the MPS using a range of media. An electronic version will be published via the MPS intranet. Additionally, laminated A3 copies of the full list will be distributed widely throughout the MPS to be displayed in front offices at police stations etc. for the information of members of the public.

69. In respect of the MPA policy on charging for the policing of charity events, MPS Finance Services are producing guidance in respect of charging for policing of events in conjunction with operational colleagues. This guidance will incorporate the recommendations from the Finance Committee in respect of charity events. The intention is to bring a paper to the Finance Committee in February 2005 providing Members with an opportunity to approve the guidance prior to its formal publication across the Service.

C. Equality and diversity implications

There are no issues, which impact upon equality or diversity.

D. Financial implications

The table at Appendix 4 details the estimated income from fees and charges for 2005-2006. Unless otherwise stated, all fees and charges are exclusive of VAT.

E. Background papers

• “ACPO Guidance on Charging for Police Services”

F. Contact details

Report author: Sharon Burd, Director of Finance Services, MPS.

For more information contact:

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

Appendix 2: Charges upon the Immigration Service for Detaining their Prisoners in Metropolitan Police Service Cells – 1 April 2004

Introduction

On 20 November 2002, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was agreed between the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and the Immigration Service (IS) for the removal of immigration offenders. A subsequent MOU has been produced which was agreed between both organisations on the 24 November 2003.

Although primarily an operational document, an aspect of the MoU (Annex E) involved the protocol to follow when claiming costs from IS for detention of their prisoners in MPS cell accommodation. On the 1 December 2002 a scale of charges was introduced to be passed onto the IS when one of their detainees is accommodated in MPS cell accommodation.

It was agreed within the MoU that the scale of charges would be reviewed for April 2003 and annually thereafter. The following review has been undertaken by MPS Finance Services incorporating any changes that may have been advised by the HM Prison Service and changes to MPS pay and non-pay costs.

The table below details the charges effective from 1 April 2003 and the revised charges from 1 April 2004:

On those occasions when Immigration Services required the services of MPS interpreter, an appropriate charge of £264 ( previously £228) per detainee would be added to the charges in the above table for the use of an interpreter supplied by the MPS during the detention of an immigration offender.

Review of Charge by MPS Finance Services

The charge upon the Immigration Service as described in Annex E of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and the Immigration Service (IS) for the removal of immigration offender includes:

Police Staff Costs

• An hourly commuted (average) rate for a Uniform Sergeant and Uniform Constable from the Police Commuted Rate Tables produced by the Costing Team, Business Support.
• The rates used for April 2003 were effective from 1 April 2003. Police staff costs from 1 April 2004 use the Police Commuted Rate Tables effective from 1 September 2003.
• The charge for staff costs for 0 -12 hours is weighted by charging for 30 minutes for the first hour to reflect that booking the detainee in etc. occurs in this initial period. When dealing with the period 12 to 24 hours and periods thereafter, the weighting is not applied. The charges use an hourly commuted (average) rate effective for 2003-2004 encompassing a pay inflation factor of 3.5% from September 2003. (Pay inflation factor provided by Strategic Finance, Metropolitan Police Service).

Police Staff Costs for 0-12 hours: Sergeant £125.15; Constable £99.63 – Total £224.78

Police Staff Costs for 12-24 hours: Sergeant £236.39; Constable £188.19 – Total £424.58

Cell Accommodation

• The rate for cell accommodation used for the charges effective from 1 April 2003 was £8.00 per night.
• Guidance set out in Home Office Circular 08/1997, as mentioned earlier, details that the charge represents the cost of routine expenses of heating, lighting and minor repairs. It will also include items of expenditure towards the repair, alteration and security upgrading of accommodation costing less than £50.
• As part of our review for rates with effect from 1 April 2004, the rates suggested by HM Prison Service in December 2002 have been considered in light of additional information about the cost of cleaning cells as advised by MPS Property Services. This information has allowed the charge rates to be increased to £8.50 per night.

Cost of Cell Accommodation for 2004-2005 is £8.50 per night.

Meals

• The charge for prisoner’s meals has remained at £12 per night as advised by the HM Prison Service in December 2002.

Cost of Prisoners Meals for 2004-2005 is £12 per night.

Bedding and Hygiene

• A charge of £1.00 per night had been used within the charges effective from 1 April 2003.
• As part of the review of the charges effective from 1 April 2004, MPS Procurement Services have been able to provided updated information about the cost of the various pieces of bedding (mattress, pillow, blanket and cleaning of blankets) and disposable personal hygiene packs (shaving cream, disposable razors, disposable toothbrush and toothpaste) provided to detainees. This has increased the charge to £9.60.

Cost of bedding and hygiene for 2004-2005 is £9.60 per night.

Medical Examination

• The average cost from 1 April 2003 of £52.68 reflected an increase to accommodate 6% increase in fees paid to FMEs from December 2002.
• The average cost from 1 April 2004 of £53.45 has been increased to accommodate 5% increase in fees, backdated from 1st April 2003.
• This represents the average cost of medical expenses incurred by MPS Forensic Medical Examiner (FME) during an attendance at a police station to examine a detained person. The cost of the FME would not be charged after 24 hours as the view has been taken that on average the detained person is likely to see a doctor at least once during detention.
• The revised average charge is as follows:

Average cost of a FME is £53.45.

Conclusion

The proposed scale of charges for 2004-2005 incorporates charges of up to a week’s detention of an immigration offender. The charges for 2004-2005 recognise that, in normal circumstances, each detainee would be attended to by an FME at least once during their detention. Given that the Immigration Service are looking to remove their detainees from our jurisdiction within the first 24 hours, it is considered appropriate to only include the cost for the FME in the charge we make for either the 0 to12 hours or 12 to 24 hours detention.

Charge for Immigration Service Detainees – Interpreters Fees

• There is a ‘standard charge’ for interpreter services supplied by the MPS. The ‘standard charge’ per detainee for the use of an interpreter supplied by the MPS during the detention of an immigration offender is £264.

This charge represents a one off cost per detaineethat will not be affected by the length of the detention of a specific detainee nor the number of separate occasions interpreting services are required per detainee.

The charge has been calculated using information supplied by MPS Linguistic and Forensic Medical Services section. It represents the average of the number of claims made by MPS interpreters against the fees paid to those MPS interpreters for the service they have provided.

Cost of Interpreter is £264 per detainee.

Appendix 3: Charges for the special services of police

With effect from 1 September 2004 by Finance Committee

Note: The daily/hourly rate includes average basic pay; London weighting/London allowance; Employer’s pension liability; Employer’s National Insurance contributions; uniform costs; accommodation allowances and the three new allowances of Competency related threshold payments, Special priority payments, and Bonus payments. An overtime premium has been included, in the costs of ranks that are eligible for overtime payment, to reflect a basic element of rest day working. A departmental charge is also included to recover non-pay and overhead costs.

The full impact of the additional cost elements is not reflected in the above charges as it has been decided to phase these increases in over a three year period to avoid any unreasonable burden on event organisers.

Additional Charges

1. Horses

£416.00 for each horse per day or part of a day plus any extra expenses incurred for their conveyance and stabling. Cost of officer will be charged at the appropriate rate shown above.

2. Dogs

£52.00 for each dog per day or any part of a day plus any extra expenses incurred in conveyance. Cost of handler will be charged at the appropriate rate shown above.

3. MPS Motor Cycles

All charges are per day or part of a day. In addition the services of a police motorcyclist will be charged at the appropriate rate shown above.

The rates below include a £7 fuel charge.

• Marked bike 100cc to 600cc £18.39
• Unmarked bike 100cc to 600cc £19.46
• Marked bike 601cc plus £27.05
• Unmarked bike 601cc plus £29.35

4. Motor Vehicles

All charges are per day or part of a day. The cost comprises the charges for maintenance, capital, depreciation, the cost of the client unit who administers the outsourced contract and the payment to outsourced contractor. In addition, the services of a police or police staff driver will be charged at the appropriate rate.

The rates below include a £7 fuel charge.

4.1 MPS Vehicles

• Marked cars up to 1300cc £22.51
• Unmarked cars up to 1300cc £20.89
• Marked cars 1301cc to 1800cc £33.19
• Unmarked cars 1301cc to 1800cc £22.32
• Marked cars over 1801cc £40.97
• Unmarked cars over 1801cc £32.73
• Marked Vans up to 1900cc £33.20
• Unmarked Vans up to 1900cc £21.73
• Marked Vans over 1900cc £43.86
• UnmarkedVans over 1900cc £30.30
• TSG Carrier £49.31
• Ballistically Protected 4x4 £59.11

The rates below include a £12 fuel charge.

4.2 Hire Vehicles

• Coaches £270.00
  • Extra hour within normal hours of 06:00 - 1800 £ 34.00
  • Extra hour outside normal hours of 06:00 - 1800 £ 27.00
  • Every additional mile, above 50 miles £ 2.00
• Catering Vans small wheel base £100.32
  • medium wheel base £108.00
  • large wheel base £120.80
• Horse Boxes (4 Horses)
  • Minimum charge £150.00
  • Waiting time – per hour £ 12.00
  • Hire of Driver – Supplement per day for Sat, Sun, Bank Holiday £ 50.00
  • Every Mile, above limit for minimum charge £ 2.00
• Horse Boxes (6 Horses)
  • Minimum charge £175.00
  • Waiting time – per hour £ 15.00
  • Hire of Driver – Supplement per day for Sat, Sun, Bank Holiday £ 50.00
  • Every Mile, above limit for minimum charge £ 2.00
• Vans (to transport horse equipment; 1 van per equipment for 8 horses) £24.50
• Minibuses £74.02

Police Staff

5. Drivers The services of police staff drivers will be charged at £23.69 per hour Monday, to Sundays or public holidays. Police drivers will be charged at the appropriate hourly or daily rate.

6. Communication Officers The services of a Communication Officer or Band E equivalents will be charged at £25.93 per hour Monday, to Sunday or public holiday.

7. Police Staff Football Liaison Officer The services of a police staff Football Liaison Officer or Band D equivalents will be charged at £27.51 per hour, Monday to Sunday or public holiday.

8. Traffic Wardens The services of Traffic wardens or Band T equivalents will be charged at £23.84 per hour, Monday to Sunday or public holiday.

9. Police Community Support Officers The services of Police Community Support Officers will be charged at £26.10 per hour, Monday to Sunday or public holiday.

Note: The hourly rates include average basic pay; allowances including shift disturbance, Location allowance; ERNIC and Employer’s pension liability.

Organisations who been provided with police resources will be expected to provide reasonable accommodation for police performing special services and if this entails expense (for example, supplying a marquee) responsibility for the cost will rest with the organisation who has been provided with such resources.

Appendix 4: Annual Review of the Schedule of Fees and Charges 2005-2006

Notes: In those cases where fees have increased, the estimated income is based around current demands for MPS services. This may result in no increase in income despite there being an increase in a specific fee. For instance, in respect of intruder alarms, the number of businesses applying for registration to the unique reference number (URN) scheme has dropped. There is no clear explanation why the demand has decreased. The income generated from the fees and charges may be higher or lower than the above estimates due to demand fluctuations.

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