Request for approval to provide property services to other agencies

Report: 11
Date: 20 September 2007
By: Director of Strategic Finance on behalf of the Commissioner

Summary

The revised MPA Regulations, which come in to effect on 1 October 2007, continue to require specific Authority approval for the provision of services by the MPA to third parties.

Property Services (through the Environment Team, Operational Support Group (OSG), and Computer Modelling Bureau (CAMB)) provides services to other UK Police Forces, SoCA and other criminal justice organisations. Some services are also provided to the MoD and to/via Government Departments.

Permission is sought to continue this arrangement on a “full cost recovery” basis as required under the Regulations. Members are asked to note the intention to move to a more integrated approach, via ACPO, for UK Policing use of the services.

A. Recommendations

That

1. Members note the provision of the services to other agencies and approve the continuation of these ad hoc services on the basis of full cost recovery as required under Financial Regulations.
2. agree that as the service provision is on a “support” and “on demand” basis, to meet front line policing and related events, approval be given to enter in to these arrangements subject to a “post event” quarterly report being made to the Treasurer for monitoring purposes.
3. approval for specific provision below a threshold of £100,000 per annum be delegated to the Chief Executive. Where immediate approval is necessary because of unforseeable operational needs the Director of Strategic Finance may approve the provision of the service but must inform the Authority at the earliest opportunity.

B. Supporting information

1. The Operational Support Group (OSG) division within Property Services (PSD) provides the following broad operational capabilities/ services:

• Public Order works and barrier deployments/planning
• temporary structures/works in support of major operational policing deployments
• response/support to major events/critical incidents
• complex Computer Aided Modelling Services in support of preventative actions, crime scene investigations, court cases, general investigations and forward operational planning
• Method of Entry training and specialist advice
• covert property advice and implementation
• expert/specialist evidence
• provision of shared accommodation and property provisions
• environmental impact and related advice.

These services are provided across the UK and overseas as required.

2. In the past these services have been carried out on a “charged for basis” to other Forces, Agencies and Services. The charging has been on a “full cost recovery basis”.

3. Our primary clients include most other UK Police Forces, SoCA, NPIA, Security Agencies, MoD and other Government departments/agencies. Where endorsed by an MPS ACPO lead we also support overseas agencies in these matters. In the UK support is often provided where the MPS has no direct policing engagement.

4. The income generated fluctuates and is demand led but for 2006/07 amounted to £116K. Overall income is growing.

5. Work undertaken under mutual aid arrangements, in support of operations outside of the MPD, is also growing but fluctuates widely.

6. The work of OSG is fully risk assessed and overseen through appropriate MPA/MPS governance regimes at an operational level.

7. Many other agencies/forces rely upon the support provided by OSG and Committee support to continuation of this provision is sought.

Abbreviations

ACPO

Association of Chief Police Officers

CAMB

Computer Modelling Bureau

MoD

Ministry of Defence

MPD

Metropolitan Police District

MTFP

Medium Term Financial Projection

NPIA

National Policing Improvement Agency

OSG

Operational Support Group

PSD

Property Services Directorate

SoCA

Serious Organised Crime Agency

C. Legal implications

The legal and risk implications are already considered to be adequately covered under current arrangements.

D. Race and equality impact

There are none regarded as specific to this report or in relation to the wider aspects covered.

E. Financial implications

1. The proposal in this report accords with the revised / MPA financial regulations etc that come in to effect from 1 October 2007.

2. The income / cost recovery generated is already included in the 2007/08 revenue budgets; and for following years via the MTFP process.

3. Overall, whilst the sums are not that significant, the finance impact of providing external services supports the MPA / MPS financing of OSG in this field of work as it allows us to defray some management overhead and investment / skills investments.

4. Approval of this paper will allow essential front line support services to continue to be provided whilst exploratory discussions are held to move to a more formal Service Level Agreement or Memorandum of Understanding arrangement with the main consumers. In UK Policing terms it is expected this arrangement will be developed and agreed through ACPO.

F. Background papers

None

G. Contact details

Report author: Alan Croney, Director of Property Services, MPS

For more information contact:

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

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