HMIC inspection of Tower Hamlets BOCU

Report: 18
Date: 13 March 2003
By: Clerk

Summary

The report of the inspection of Tower Hamlets Borough Operational Command Unit by Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabularies is presented for review. Copies of the HMIC report have been circulated to members of this Committee, are on the MPA website and a copy has been placed in the Members Room.

A. Recommendation

That the Committee notes the report and resolves to receive from the MPS details of action taken to address the recommendations made.

B. Supporting information

1. The inspection team found many positives during this inspection, not least being the existence of a dedicated workforce committed to providing a high quality of service to the residents of Tower Hamlets. Of particular note were the strong agencies. A manifestation of this collaboration has been the creation of numerous effective partnerships that are working hard to tackle crime and disorder issues on the BCU.

2. Despite this it is an inescapable fact that there has been a significant rise in crime during the last financial year. Although in recent months performance in the category of street crime has improved this has not been the case in other categories. However, the BCU Commander and the rest of the Senior Management Team have the general support of the majority of staff and, recognising the short time they have been together, more time is needed for them to formulate and implement appropriate strategies. The inspection team was cognisant of the fact that they simply wanted to ‘get things done’ and were keen to make changes and improvements in a number of areas.

3. Recommendations

1. Counter-terrorism work be included in Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership activities in the future. It was also recommended that the BCU Commander review his role within the partnership with a view to sharing the chair of the strategy groups with other partners.
2. A more robust performance management structure be introduced, so that staff at all levels are clear about what is required of them and are held to account.
3. There was further development of the National Intelligence Model on the BCU. This should involve a strategic assessment of the nature of the crime and disorder problems affecting the BCU, which should then be reflected in a written control strategy and a regularly produced tactical assessment.
4. The roles and responsibilities of the Borough Intelligence Unit were reviewed with a view to removing the burden of non-core tasks. It would also seen as appropriate to review whether the unit is in the most appropriate location to ensure that relevant criminal intelligence is easily accessible to all staff on the BCU.
5. A review be carried out of the tasking and co-ordination meeting with a view to including only key individuals and widening its focus to include all crime and operational matters.
6. A fundamental review be carried out of the present crime investigative structures and processes. This should include the reactive and proactive CID strengths, the number of squads, their location and the quality of the accommodation.
7. The BCU review its management of forensic issues to ensure that all forensic hits are acted upon, backed up by a robust audit trail and management tracking processes.
8. The BCU review the findings of the crime audit to establish systems and processes that ensure future compliance with the National Crime Recording Standard.
9. The BCU carry out a fundamental review of its policing strategy including all the existing systems, structures and processes. The primary aim should be to improve performance outcomes against targets with a suggested starting point being a review against the MPS Policing Model.A copy of the HMIC report has been forwarded to the Link Member, Abdal Ullah. Copies of the HMIC report have also been circulated to members of this Committee, are on the MPA website and a copy has been placed in the Members’ Room.

C. Equality and diversity implications

The substantive diversity and equality issues were considered as part of the HMIC report but no specific recommendations were made in this regard.

D. Financial implications

None.

E. Background papers

HMIC Borough Inspection Report on Tower Hamlets

F. Contact details

Report author: Keith Dickinson, MPA.

For more information contact:

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

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