Minutes

Minutes of the Planning, Performance & Review Committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 9 January 2003 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members:

• Richard Sumray (Chair)
• Anthony Arbour (items 6-13)
• Reshard Auladin (Deputy Chair)
• Lynne Featherstone
• Nicholas Long

MPA Officers:

• Catherine Crawford (Clerk)
• Derrick Norton (Head of Strategic Planning & Review)
• Claire Lambert (Analyst)
• Ken Hunt (Deputy Treasury)
• Nick Baker (Head of Committee Services)
• Yvonne Peart (Committee Clerk)

MPS Officers:

• DAC House, Cmdr Given (Criminal Justice Department)
• John Zlotnicki (Head of Corporate Planning)
• Carol McDonald (Head of Corporate Performance Analysis Unit)
• Ch Supt Heath (Criminal Justice Department)

Part 1

45. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Elizabeth Howlett and Johanna Gillians.

46. Declarations of interest

(Agenda item 2)

No interests were declared.

47. Minutes

(Agenda item 3)

Resolved – That the minutes of the former Planning, Performance and Review Committee held on 11 November 2002 be agreed and signed as a correct record.

48. Update on the progress of the strategy and the annual plan 2003/04

(Agenda item 4)

Members received a report that summarised the latest position in respect of the preparation of the Strategic Plan and Annual Policing Plan and in particular, the arrangements for agreeing the objectives targets and measures. The Committee agreed to defer discussions on the update on planning arrangements to the Planning Panel on Monday 13 January.

Members highlighted that child protection has been listed as a proposed objective but this is already an objective of the Authority.

In response to members enquiries to Objective 1 in Appendix 1, the proposal for police officers to wear uniform when using public transport, the MPS advised that the proposal would be for the development of this measure. However, members’ attention was drawn to the health and safety issues around officers wearing uniform when not on duty.

Resolved – That

1. members noted the work undertaken so far on the Strategy and its links with the National Policing Plan (NPP) and the annual plan;
2. members noted the arrangements for establishing appropriate objectives, targets and measures for consideration at the Full Authority meeting in January; and
3. members noted the key milestones in the preparation of the Strategy and NPP.

49. Performance report for November

(Agenda item 5)

Members considered a report that gave a summary of MPS performance against policing plan objectives 2002-3. In receiving this report, members were given a brief update on the November 2002 performance figures.

Members noted that the offence figures for street crime, burglary and auto crime had improved. The response to 999 emergency calls had also improved. The way that gun crime figures are presented has been changed to enable transparency.

The Chair requested information on how the Fire Brigade industrial action had affected performance levels.

Members were informed that work on the relevance of the public attitude survey is being carried out, as there is no simple correlation between the number of officers on the streets and people’s fear of crime. People’s fear of crime is also driven by other factors such as experience, the media as well as both fictional and factual matters.

The Committee acknowledged that the statistics on fear of crime need to be driven by better indicators and welcomed the work being done in this area.

The Committee asked for an update at a future meeting to discuss police officers in schools now that a number of officers have been in situ for several months. A report on the bespoke borough targets and how these have been deployed, including the views from Borough Commanders was also requested.

In response to a member’s request for information on the method of selection of boroughs under Operation Safer Homes, the MPS advised that a response would be provided to a future meeting.

Resolved – That

1. the report be noted; and
2. that the Committee receive a report providing an update on police officers in schools and a report on borough bespoke targets.

50. Burglary and safer homes

(Agenda item 6)

The Committee resolved that an updated report on burglary and Operation Safer Homes would be discussed at a future meeting, when a member of Territorial Policing would be able to attend the Committee to present the report and answer any questions members may have.

Resolved – That a report be presented to a future meeting on Operation Safer Homes and to include the results of the operation.

51. Customer satisfaction

(Agenda item 7)

The Committee discussed a report that outlined trends and drivers for customer satisfaction levels, as reported in the monthly performance report. A discussion was held as to how accurate monitoring of customer satisfaction could take place.

The MPS reported that the customer satisfaction survey has shortcomings and that they are looking at ways to ensure that the data can be actionable. They reported that the results of the surveys were continually monitored, however the sample composition depends on the types of questions and the number of individuals asked.

The MPS reported that they are confident that the survey is picking up the changes in customer satisfaction in overall crime. However, significant data is required for smaller groups. The changes to data collection are being examined by the MPS as well as at a national level. The work at national level should address how future data is to be presented.

The Chair advised that the Committee would need to monitor this issue and would need to respond to any changes.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

52. Monitoring performance of specialist crime and operations

(Agenda item 8)

The Committee received a report that provided details on the suggested process for monitoring Specialist Crime (SC) and Specialist Operations (SO) Units together with suggested performance measures.

The Committee agreed that the process would start in March. They said that performance indicators (PIs) that measure both SC and SO needs to be set at a high level.

Information on the resources of the specialist units and the demands placed on the units would be useful in future reports.

Resolved – That

1. members agreed the suggested high-level performance measures for SC and SO units;
2. members receive a summary paper on the high-level performance indicators at every other meeting of the Committee, starting in March;
3. members receive a further in-depth report on one SC and SO unit or function to accompany the summary paper at every other meeting; and
4. any further monitoring of confidential and operationally sensitive performance information for SC or SO units continues to be carried out on behalf of the Authority by Sir John Quinton.

53. Update on Rape Implementation Plan

(Agenda item 9)

The Committee received a report that provided an update on the progress of the implementation plan with details about each specific recommendation.

Members were informed that a pan-London Haven implementation group had been formed. The MPS reported that all those agencies involved in the Haven’s project have good working relationships with each other and that it would take longer than anticipated to reduce the case backlog.

Members requested an update on the work that is currently being carried out with regards to gang rape and the work that is being done with juveniles and on education. However, the MPS sought the Committees care when dealing with this issue as it involved other agencies, such as the Department for Education and Skills.

Resolved – That

1. members support the steps taken by Project Sapphire to improve victim care for rape victims and the investigation of rape; and
2. members receive a report on gang rape to a future meeting.

54. Progress on domestic violence targets

(Agenda item 10)

The Committee received a report that informed members of the MPS current progress against the judicial disposal targets and also advises Members of the limited comparisons that can be made between the MPS and its family members.

The MPS reported that to November they are exceeding the judicial disposal (JD) target. They said that domestic violence (DV) is a high volume crime and their priority is for the victims and children involved.

Members sought to know how other agencies are represented and approached when children are involved in DV incidents.

In response the MPS advised that the child’s safety is a high priority and officers attending DV incidents should include on the incident report where a child is present, and through this method the Child Protection Team are notified. If officers have concerns for the child’s safety they have the powers to take immediate action.

Members expressed concern about the repeated incidents where children are present. It was expressed that individual incidents may not be of immediate concern but the effects of numerous incidents on children will increase and be the cause of harm to them.

In response to Members, on the recording of repeat victims, the MPS advised the Committee that the current system is unable to record those individuals that are victims accurately and that repeat victims are not currently used as a performance indicator, there is a target, however, to reduce victimisation. The MPS reported that they felt that DV crimes are higher than actually recorded, as many DV victims do not report such incidents. However, the MPS will endeavour to produce statistics, albeit the results would not be very scientific.

Resolved – That

1. the report be noted; and
2. members receive a report on the MPS response on the result of the domestic violence survey.

55. Criminal Justice update

(Agenda item 11)

The Committee received a report that updated members of development of the Criminal Justice Department.

Members were informed that KPMG have worked with the MPS Steering Group to help design new processes, which will help to shorten the current delays in the criminal justice system and assist in the prevention of duplication. The representation of the Steering Group has been made as wide as possible to ensure that the work matches that of all that come under the criminal justice umbrella. The KMPG report has been completed and will be delivered shortly. It is anticipated that that the findings from the report will result in a new system of working that will be quicker and more effective.

A web site on the MPS internal intranet is planned, which will capture the activities of all the agencies working on the modernisation processes that have been proposed. A secure email system is being rolled out and should be completed within the next two months, which will allow better management of all files.

Modernisation of the criminal justice system, within the MPS, will provide Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) lawyers to be at the point of charge. Twenty units will undertake this initiative in the first instance, which should enable charges to be determined at an early stage.

In response to members’ questions on the CPS’ ability to adequately staff the charge points, the MPS advised that the CPS have given the undertaking to provide their best lawyers at these charge points between the hours of 7am and 7pm. The provision of a service out side of these hours is being addressed but the full terms are yet to be agreed. The MPS will be taking the lead on discussions with its criminal justice partners on the prevention of deaths in custody and other health and safety issues.

In response to a member’s question on the strategic review of custody facilities, the MPS advised that a survey of custody suites has been commissioned in order to feed into plans to achieve a minimum standard. Custody suites will be given a top down inspection to ensure that all health and safety issues are covered. Long-term accommodation issues will be dealt with as an estate issue.

The Chair said that this was an opportunity to grasp criminal justice issues, as all agencies are willing to work together. It will also allow for victim aimed focus to be maintained which will support victims through all the criminal justice system. He asked that the KPMG report be linked to the Best Value Review of Criminal Justice, so that any issues identified can be included, in particular equality and diversity and financial implications. The Chair also requested that reports to future Committee meetings should detail any issues that have been raised and how the MPS intends to deal with these issues.

The Chair also informed the meeting that the police authority chairs had received an invitation to sit on local Criminal Justice Boards (CJB) following a letter from Lord Falconer to the Association of Police Authorities (APA). This will enable the London CJB to address issues on which the Committee has concerns. The Clerk informed members that the Deputy Commissioner supported the introduction of the MPA on the London CJB.

Members welcomed the Criminal Justice System Directorate and the co-operation of the CPS and hoped that all the work being carried out would lead to improvements in timescales and performance.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

56. Glidewell update

(Agenda item 12)

The Committee received a report that updated Members on the development of the planned 15 Glidewell sites across London to deliver a joined up service by all those within the criminal justice system.

The MPS said that the benefits of the first pilot site, at Holborn, had not achieved the aims of the project. The MPS asked the MPA for an agreement to bring to an end the original proposal for 15 Glidewell units and move towards a system of a large number of charging points across the whole of the MPS, where the CPS lawyers will work at the point to charge.

The Chair said that a full evaluation of Holborn has not yet been received. A full evaluation is required to inform the decision making process and the Committee will need to know the implications of both suggested systems prior to making a decision. The Chair said that the evaluation should include the financial differences between the pilot at Holborn and the planned sites elsewhere.

Members approved moves towards a borough-based model in principle. The Committee requested that a fuller report be brought to the next meeting that should include the background to Glidewell and pilot, findings of the evaluation, options for the future and implications of the preferred way forward.

Resolved – That

1. the recommendations be not adopted save in principle;
2. the MPS continue work to clarify implications of the borough-based model;
3. a further report on Glidewell issues, particularly the Holborn pilot, to be submitted to the next Committee meeting.

57. Bringing offenders to justice: best value review

(Agenda item 13)

The Committee considered a report that set out the improvement plan as recommended by the Project Board from the final report of the ‘Bringing Offenders to Justice’ Best Value Review.

Members were informed that all the recommendations in the final report would be taken forward in parallel with those emerging from the KPMG review.

The report has been circulated to MPA members’ and all have had the opportunity to comment on its contents. Members asked that the provision of victim and witness care be included in the recommendations of the final report.

It was also highlighted that the provision of civilian custody officers will need to be continuously reviewed, as it will impact on other areas.

Members asked how confident the MPS were that the proposal to spend £4.5 million employing civilians to chase and execute warrants would be successful.

In response, the MPS said that there are a number of issues being pursued including the removal of warrants. Civilians would carry out a trace and locate function and police officers would still continue to execute the warrant.

The Chair thanked everyone who worked on the Best Value Review.

Resolved – That

1. members endorse the final report as given in Appendix 3;
2. members approved the recommendations and improvement plan as set out in Appendices 1 and 2; and
3. members receive an update towards the improvement plan every six months.

58. Securing continuous improvement

(Agenda item 14)

A report was considered that proposed changes to the way in which the MPA’s statutory duty to secure continuous improvement (best value) across all MPS functions is delivered. The lead member for best value pointed out that the proposal had come about from lessons learned.

Members were informed that the ‘health of Londoners’ is likely to be the next proposed joint review within the GLA family. There is no decision yet on any national review for Special Branch and clarification is anticipated following HMIC’s recent thematic inspection.

Resolved – That

1. members endorsed the streamlined process for carrying out statutory reviews as advised in the report.
2. members approved the proposals form MPS management board on the areas to review in 2003/04 (i.e. ‘operational support policing’ and ‘staff deployment’) subject to clarification on any requirement to participate in a national review of special branch; and
3. the changes in the review regime including the move towards ‘service improvement reviews’ are publicised internally and externally.

59. HMIC inspection of Greenwich

(Agenda item 15)

The Committee received a report of the inspection of Greenwich Borough BOCU carried out by Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabularies (HMIC).

Superintendent Hanstock of Greenwich BOCU reported that they found the HMIC report positive. A Chief Inspector has been appointed with the direct responsibility of ensuring that each recommendation is actioned. There has been a widespread examination of policing in the Borough.

In response to Members enquiries about the lack of staff, Superintendent Hanstock said that there has been low morale. However, a review of the shift pattern will start in February; there has been 88% support of the Accenture default shift pattern. This anticipated change will provide flexible and variable working hours and is expected to provide a positive effect on morale. The new system will give the opportunity to have an overlap of staff at key times throughout the day.

Resolved – That the MPA note the report and received from the MPS details of action taken to address the recommendations made.

The meeting ended at 4.15 p.m.

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