Community support officers

Report: 11
Date: 7 March 2002
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report has been prepared following discussion at the last Human Resources Committee. It seeks to set out details of how the proposal to introduce a scheme in London to recruit and deploy a direct labour force of community support officers, which are presently referred to as police auxiliaries, might be achieved.

A. Recommendation

It is recommended that Members note the contents of this report.

B. Supporting information

Rationale

1. The terrorist attacks in the United States on 11 September 2001 represented a major change in both the nature and scale of previous terrorist attacks. In response there was a need within London to provide high visibility patrols. Officers were drawn from boroughs across London diminishing the numbers available for patrol and in turn affecting the level of service to the public. It is recognised that some elements of the response to the terrorism threat may be more appropriately and cost effectively provided by community support officers, currently known as police auxiliaries. This would mean that police officers could remain on their borough command units, making full use of their skills and training.

Legislation

2. The Police Reform Bill has provided the opportunity for the MPS to develop a role for an auxiliary force to provide a visible and uniformed presence. This would enhance the ability of the MPS to eradicate low level criminality and disorder together with anti-social behaviour. They would be under the control of police and be available for deployment within designated areas. However their role would be dependent on the powers provided by the proposed police reform legislation. It is likely that Royal Assent will be given in November 2002.

Description

3. Police auxiliaries are individuals, employed, directed, deployed and controlled by the MPS. They are there to assist police officers in a variety of roles, to make police more effective. Auxiliaries are not to replace police officers but to assist them in patrol duties. It is intended that they provide a visible presence, improving community confidence and reassurance. Their presence will help in the prevention and reduction of crime. They will wear a uniform that will associate them with the corporate identity of the MPS. Training will be relevant to the role that they will undertake. It is envisaged that a police auxiliary will carry out a specific role under the control and direction of a police officer.

Specific roles

4. The MPS has identified three types of auxiliaries,

• Community
• Transport
• Security

Community

5. Community auxiliaries will be attached to local Borough commands as a local resource. It is intended to provide an accountable person from the community to deal with problems in a local area in the support of the local policing. They will deal with low level offences and problems. They will be intelligence led, being paraded, briefed and debriefed with police officers. They will be targeted to high visibility patrols within identified high crime areas, working under the control of a community police officer. The community officers may have several auxiliaries working under their control. This proposal supports the Government’s Reform Bill, which outlines the building of a civil society. The scheme will link in with the warden schemes operated by a number of local authorities.

Transport

6. It is intended that auxiliaries will be employed within the proposed Transport OCU, which will be funded by Transport for London. The OCU will have specific responsibility for policing agreed bus routes and corridors on the London bus network. Auxiliaries will work alongside police officers and traffic wardens. Their primary roles will be to assist with the efficient movement of buses and provide public reassurance on buses and at boarding/alighting points. Auxiliaries will assist in patrolling, dealing with anti social behaviour and minor criminal offences. This is subject to the conferring of suitable powers.

Security

7. Operation Calm, the response to the terrorist attacks, highlighted the need for additional resources to provide protection to the critical national infrastructure and all communities within the MPS. There is also a need to provide a resilient response to major incidents and security alerts. To support these demands it is envisaged that security auxiliaries will be deployed outside vulnerable premises, or on short patrols within such areas as the City of Westminster. It is anticipated that security auxiliaries will be recruited later this year, subject to Treasury funding and MPA approval.

8. Initially the implementation was being considered on two pilot sites within two London Boroughs. These have now been deferred, whilst the MPS focuses on the deployment of security auxiliaries, with community and transport auxiliaries to follow in 2003, if legislation permits.

Staffing implications

9. Job descriptions, person specifications and role profiles will all be established when proposals for introduction of community support officers are approved. Recruitment campaigns will be specifically designed and will encourage full participation from all under represented groups. It is anticipated that the age range of 18 to 60 will be adopted in line with civil staff terms and conditions of employment. Flexible working patterns will also be available, which it is hoped will widen the scope for many individuals who have not previously considered a career with the MPS.

Powers

10. Schedule 4 of the Police Reform Bill provides details of the powers that may to be given to auxiliaries.

• Issue of fixed penalty tickets for minor anti-social behaviour.
• Detain a person for a maximum of 30 minutes pending
• the arrival of a constable.
• Require the name and address of a person acting in an anti-social manner.
• Use reasonable force to detain a person.
• Confiscation of alcohol when being consumed in designated public places.
• Confiscation of tobacco from young persons.
• Enter and search premises to save life or limb or prevent serious damage.
• Seizure of vehicles used to cause alarm to other persons.
• Abandoned vehicles.
• Road checks in company of a constable.
• Cordoned areas.
• Stop and search motor vehicles under the Terrorism Acts.

Workshops

11. Workshops to examine the introduction of security auxiliaries in the MPS were held from Monday 4 February to Thursday 8 February. The workshops involved members of the Boroughs involved in the proposed sites, representatives from all they key internal departments and the unions. Members of the MPA were invited and participated in the discussion during the week. The key issues addressed at the workshops are summarised at Appendix 1.

Project team

12. A small project team has been set up to develop the key issues identified from the workshops, through to implementation, so that there is minimal delay in the event of funding arrangements being resolved.

Timetable

13. The implementation of police auxiliaries is dependent on funding approval from the Treasury. A statement is expected in April. The approval of the MPA and Management Board will then be required. It is anticipated that deployment could commence towards the end of November 2002.

Further papers

14. A further paper and presentation will be provided at the next Human Resources Committee meeting.

C. Financial implications

The financial implications for the entire scheme are being fully evaluated. and will be reported in detail as part of any final proposals. The three types of auxiliaries are to be funded from three different areas and it is currently envisaged that there will be no additional net cost but this will be borne out as part of the full evaluation of the schemes.

D. Background papers

None.

E. Contact details

Report author: Peter Smith, MPS 020 7230 0559

For information contact:

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

Appendix 1: Police auxiliaries - security role

This report provides brief details of the workshop held to examine the introduction of security auxiliaries into the MPS.

Generic role of auxiliaries

To reassure communities in London by providing:

A visible, accessible, knowledgeable and accountable uniform patrol presence to support police officers.

Role of security auxiliary

• Reassurance of all communities within London;
• Protection of Life;
• Protection of the critical infrastructure;
• Assisting police officers at ceremonial and special events;
• A resilient response to major incidents and security alerts.

Functions

• High visibility patrols;
• Assisting police officers at cordons under the Terrorism Act 2000;
• Assisting police officers in carrying out roadchecks;
• Respond major incidents and security alerts; and
• Assisting in the gathering of intelligence and information.

Skills required

• Communication, both written and verbal;
• Lifeskills and confidence;
• A reasonable standard of health and fitness;
• A knowledge and understanding of the diverse communities of London;
• The ability to work as part of a team; and
• A desire to serve London communities.

Powers required to carry out a security role

The Police Reform Bill proposes a number of powers that will be available for the chief officer to grant to community support officers. The minimum powers required to enable a security auxiliary to carry out their role are listed below; these could be expanded if required. At present the Police Reform Bill is in the House of Lords and we will not know what powers will be available to community support officers until the Bill receives Royal assent.

• Entry to save life or limb (schedule 4 part 1(10) Police Reform Bill)
• Carrying out roadchecks (schedule 4 part 1(11) Police Reform Bill)
• Power to assist in cordoned areas (schedule 4 part 1(12) Police Reform Bill)
• Powers to stop and search vehicles and item carried by pedestrians in an authorised area (schedule 4 part 1(13) Police Reform Bill)

Salary

Traffic wardens under the Hay Review have been placed in a band T and it is anticipated that security auxiliaries would be placed in a similar band to adhere to the principles of the review. The band ranges from:

• £14,593 - £17,110
• £2,556 Inner London weighting allowance
• £1,359 Outer London weighting allowance
• 12.5%; 15.5% or 20% shift disturbance allowance

For auxiliaries employed in Westminster they will be required to work a 24/7 roster which would also attract premium rates of pay at the weekends. An auxiliary at Westminster could be earning in the region of £20,067

The salaries for community and neighbourhood wardens varies nationally between £14,000 - £28,000.

A selection of salaries paid to wardens in London

• Bermondsey Neighbourhood Wardens £18,210 - £24,000
• Shepherds Bush Green Street Wardens £20,300
• Barnet Neighbourhood Warden £23,748 - £25,479
• Islington Street Warden £22,971 - £24,750
• Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea £20,500 - £27,700 (proposed salaries for street wardens)

Training

A generic training package is currently being designed by staff from Training School. The course will last three weeks, which includes a week local induction, and will consist of:

• Introduction to the MPS and role of auxiliary
• Personal safety
• Diversity/Ethics
• MPS radio procedure
• Incident management
• First aid
• Communication

The course could be delivered centrally or at Peel Centre.

Uniform

Security auxiliaries will wear a similar style of uniform to traffic wardens but will have the words ‘Police Auxiliary’ on all badges. They will either have a flat cap, or hat for female employees, with a blue band or a distinctive blue chequered band. A photographic example of the uniform will be available on the 7th March 2002.

Resources

To ensure that security auxiliaries are effectively integrated into the MPS and borough structure they will need to be based at Borough Command Units. They will be briefed and tasked by a police officer and use the current radio network.

Supervision

They will come under the overall control of Territorial Policing and the local borough commander. A role of senior police auxiliary is being considered to deal with welfare matters, appraisals, duties, etc. thereby reducing the demands placed on police officers.

Measurement

• Visibility
• Police officer hours saved
• Visual audits
• Crime rates
• Internal and external consultation
• Intelligence

Project management

A project team has been set up to co-ordinate and implement the introduction of auxiliaries under the overall command of DAC Godwin acting on behalf of the Deputy Commissioner:

Police auxiliaries programme structure

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