August 2003 performance report

Report: 13
Date: 9 October 2003
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report gives a summary of MPS performance against policing plan objectives for 2003-4 and informs the MPA of discussion in the MPS Performance Review Committee.

A. Recommendation

That members note the report.

B. Supporting information

Performance against policing plan targets

1. The MPS continues to drive down crime, with reductions recorded in street crime, gun related violent crime, burglary and autocrime. Three of these four reductions are statistically significant and burglary is at a 27-year low. Burglary and gun related violent crime reduction targets are very likely to be achieved. The autocrime 7% reduction target remains challenging, with a year to date reduction of 6.5%, and the 1.5% street crime reduction is some way from the required 10% reduction. A separate update paper is provided to PPRC regarding street crime.

2. The homicide clear-up rate has increased to 93.6% against the 83% target. This increase is due to a combination of a large number of clear-ups and a low number of offences in August.

3. The position regarding the offences brought to justice target remains unclear, with a lack of up-to-date information making it difficult to assess whether progress is on track. The MPS is computerising courts results processing to remedy this situation. Activity is also underway to improve detection administration and hence enhance the detection and offences brought to justice rates.

4. Hate crime judicial disposal rates have fallen from last year and are not meeting the targets set out in the policing plan. October PRC will receive an update from DCC4 regarding plans to improve performance in this area and this will be reported to PPRC. General activity to improve detection administration will also impact in this area.

5. Police officer, traffic warden and PCSO sickness levels are meeting targets, and police officer and traffic warden sickness levels have improved significantly. Civil staff sickness levels have also improved, but remain above the target 10 days per person per year.

6. As a result of higher sustained recruiting and lower wastage police strength has grown by two per cent since the end of March 2003, an additional 587 officers. Current PCSO recruitment activity is on course to meet this years target, and civil staff strength has increased by 3.4%. Whilst the VEM and female recruitment targets are not yet being met plans are in place to ensure that they are reached by the end of the performance year.

7. Progress towards targeted actions is as follows:

• All seventy-seven communication action plans are complete and are being scrutinised for identification of areas of good practice. An inspection framework is being developed.
• Implementation of the national intelligence model is ongoing.

8. Appendix 1 is the MPS monthly performance report for August 2003.

Borough performance review

9. The TP performance review team has undertaken reviews at Tower Hamlets (May), Southwark and Hammersmith & Fulham (June), Lewisham (August) and Barnet (September) so far this performance year. All of these reviews have been instigated following increases in street crime and burglary, based on four-week (compared with the previous four-week period) and twelve-week comparisons.

10. Whilst it is too early to consider the impact of review activity on Lewisham and Barnet, some positive results can be seen for Tower Hamlets, Southwark and Hammersmith & Fulham. Tower Hamlets has seen sustained reductions in all three priority crimes with a small recent increase in burglary levels. Southwark saw reductions in autocrime and a short-term reduction in burglary. Hammersmith & Fulham has seen strong reductions in street crime and autocrime, but some increase in burglary.

11. One common theme to the review findings relates to intelligence management; for example lack of control strategies for priority crime, poor selection of nominals and poor integration of the CJU with intelligence. This should be tackled as the national intelligence model implementation continues.

12. The performance review process has been enhanced to ensure that action plans are agreed between the lead DAC and borough commander at the conclusion of the review, with review activity scheduled within the next 3-6 months. The review team is being strengthened to ensure that it has the capacity to cover a larger number of boroughs but also to undertake more thorough action plan and progress reviews.

C. Equality and diversity implications

Implications of performance against individual targets are considered in in-depth performance reports throughout the year. This report notes exceptions in strategic disproportionality indicators (such as stop-search) where applicable.

D. Financial implications

None.

E. Background papers

None.

F. Contact details

Report author: Carol McDonald, MPS Corporate Performance Analysis Unit, MPS.

For more information contact:

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

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