Minutes - draft

Please note these minutes are currently draft and are subject to committee approval.

Minutes of the Planning, Performance & Review Committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 17 March 2005 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Richard Sumray (Chair)
• Richard Barnes
• Rachel Whittaker
• Karim Murji

MPA officers

• David Riddle (Deputy Clerk)
• Gemma Walters (Planning and Performance)
• Siobhan Coldwell (Head of Scrutiny and Review)
• Elizabeth Turner (Treasury)
• Yvonne Peart (Committee Officer)

MPS officers

• DAC Richard Bryan (Planning and Performance)
• DAC Suzanna Becks (Specialist Operations)
• DAC Brian Paddick (TP)
• Sarah Brader (MPS Corporate Planning)
• DCS Mark Benbow (Criminal Justice)
• Lawrence Morris (Corporate Performance Analysis Unit)
• Jeff Fouhy (Specialist Operation MIU)

41. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Cindy Butts (Deputy Chair); Reshard Auladin; Lynne Featherstone and Jane Owen.

42. Declarations of interest

(Agenda item 2)

No interests were declared.

43. Minutes: 4 November 2004

(Agenda item 3)

The Committee considered the minutes of the meeting held on 19 January 2005.

RESOLVED - That the minutes of the Planning, Performance and Review Committee held on 19 January be agreed and signed as a correct record.

44. Performance report: financial year; April 2004 to January 2005

(Agenda item 4)

The Committee considered a report that provided an overview of performance for the financial year to date i.e. April 2004 to January 2005.

This report was circulated with less than five working days notice, under the provisions of Section 100B 4b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The Chair acknowledged that the report had not been circulated within statutory timescales but agreed to accept the report as urgent as relevant information within it was only recently received and he considered it necessary for members to consider this information as part of the report.

The MPS reported that the year to date January 2005 target on increase in uniformed police hours had declined in comparison to the same period last year. The MPS explained that for financial reasons they have minimum staffing levels on Bank Holidays and the additional Bank Holidays at Christmas has significant impact on police officer visibility. They are looking at improved indicators for next year.

The MPS explained that the difficulties experienced with carrying out background checks were mainly due to incorrectly completed forms, persons born or having lived abroad and problems with obtaining information from some countries. Information on background checks has been requested to enable the MPS to establish how far they are from achieving the 10 day target.

Members were noted that each month the reduction in robberies declines and were concerned that it may not be long before the offence figures start to show an increase.

RESOLVED – That

1. the report be noted;
2. a report is presented to a future committee that quantifies the impact that minimum staffing levels at Bank Holidays has on police officer visibility; and
3. a report be presented to a future committee that would highlight MPS plans to secure the continuous decrease in robberies next year. This should include the long-term effects of what will happen without additional Home Office funding.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted

45. January 2005 borough performance

(Agenda item 5)

A report was received that provided an overview of key volume crime indicators in each borough for the financial year to date i.e. April to 2004 January 2005.

This report was circulated with less than five working days notice, under the provisions of Section 100B 4b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The Chair acknowledged that the report had not been circulated within statutory timescales but agreed to accept the report as urgent as relevant information within it was only recently received and he considered it necessary for members to consider this information as part of the report.

The MPS reported that local authorities are able to secure additional funding from central government if they promise crime reduction and that when local authorities proposals conflicts with MPS policing priorities it can place strain of the public service agreement. AC Alan Brown will be considering the effectiveness of Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) as part of the MPS Service review.

Some members were dissatisfied with the MPS policy to provide active support only to the Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) that utilise safer neighbourhood teams and police community safety officers.

The Chair said that it was a notable achievement that Lambeth, which is a high volume borough had fewer burglary offences and that Islington, Camden and Newham had fewer motor vehicle crimes.

RESOLVED – That

1. the report be noted;
2. a report is presented to a future committee that would review where we are with alternative policing and would include BIDs, local authority schemes and accreditation;
3. a report be presented to a future committee that considers the impact of CDRPs on decision making and the effectiveness of CDRPs; and
4. future reports provide information in actual figures instead of percentages.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted

46. Specialist Operations management information

(Agenda item 6)

Members received a report that summarised Specialist Operations Command performance against its objectives from December 2004 to January 2005.

Members expressed concern that the offensive weapons were getting pass search arches by visitors to Strangers Gallery (within the Houses of Parliament). In response, the MPS reported that a metal detector would not pick up all offensive weapons. Many of these incidents involve foreigners who carry weapons that are legal in their home country. The MPS are carrying out some follow up work to look at the weaknesses in the system at the port of entry.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

47. Response times

(Agenda item 7)

Members received a report that provided an update on the progress of the C3i implementation; outlined the impact on response times and identified issues around demand management.

This report was circulated with less than five working days notice, under the provisions of Section 100B 4b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The Chair acknowledged that the report had not been circulated within statutory timescales but agreed to accept the report as urgent as relevant information within it was only recently received and he considered it necessary for members to consider this information as part of the report.

RESOLVED –The MPS requested that this report be withdrawn because it contained incorrect information. The Chair whilst expressing dissatisfaction with this late request agreed only because of its inaccuracies to withdraw the report and defer it to the next meeting.

48. Alcohol related violent crime

(Agenda item 8)

A report was received that provided a summary of the latest performance figures on alcohol related violent crime. It included an assessment of the changes in offence levels due to amendments to the licensing laws and the MPS response.

The MPS reported that they are providing resources at particular times of the day and days of the week to meet the demands of alcohol related violent crime. It was highlighted that the increase in reporting of violence against the person was contributed to by more police officers being on the streets and therefore not too far away from the incident, resulting in police action.

RESOLVED – That

1. the report be noted; and
2. a report be presented to a future committee following the publication of the report by Mike Hough. Mike Hough’s report will consider the increases in violent crime.

49. HMIC going Local inspection programme 2003-2004

(Agenda item 9)

A report was received that provided an update on the status of the action plans and identifies any barriers to the implementation of recommendations arising from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) inspections of BCUs.

Members considered the report and noted that an overarching report on inspections of BCUs would be presented to a future committee.

RESOLVED – That

1. the report be noted; and
2. the amended timetable for future submissions of reports be approved.

50. The corporate strategy

(Agenda item 10a)

Members received a report that outlined proposals for the development of the Corporate Strategy 2006 – 2009, including the strategy principles and the high level development timeline.

The MPS reported that the Corporate Strategy would outline how the MPS engage with the MPA and stakeholders.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

(Agenda item 10b)

A report was considered that outlined the statement of intent for the corporate strategy for 2005 – 2006. It outlined the legislative requirements, rationale for the statement of intent and next steps for the development of the corporate strategy 2006 – 2009.

Members were concerned that the MPS public safety remit is described in the statement of intent as ‘the widening mission’ and that this implies that the MPS have not always had responsibilities to public satisfaction and public safety.

RESOLVED – That

1. the report be noted; and
2. the statement of intent be endorsed.

51. Best value review of managing demand

(Agenda item 11)

The Committee received a report that provided an update on the Demand Management Best Value Review (DMBVR) implementation plan and the progress being made in delivering each of the recommendations.

This report was circulated with less than five working days notice, under the provisions of Section 100B 4b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The Chair acknowledged that the report had not been circulated within statutory timescales but agreed to accept the report as urgent as relevant information within it was only recently received and he considered it necessary for members to consider this information as part of the report.

Members briefly looked through the report and expressed concern with a number of the proposed amendments to the original DMBVR recommendations. Members were concerned that due to the late receipt of this report there was insufficient time to give it full consideration.

RESOLVED – That

1. members concerns with the proposed recommendations be submitted in writing to the MPS for inclusion in a future report; and
2. the report be deferred to the next Committee

52. Custody capacity service improvement review – progress against the improvement plan

(Agenda item 12)

The Committee received a report that provided an update on the work of the Custody Directorate arising form the recommendations of the Service Improvement Review concerning custody.

The Chair commented that a lot of work has been done to try and improve the criminal justice system and it is being let down by the new transport contractors.

The MPS reported that the memorandum of understanding is an agreement with the Immigration Service and its objective is to tighten up and enforce what they deliver. The issues that are of main concern to the MPS are

• cell blockage – not being able to use the cells for criminals
• cells not designed for long stay users
• distribution of cells

RESOLVED – That

1. the report be noted; and
2. that regular update be provided to the Committee twice yearly.

53. Service improvement review of guarding

(Agenda item 13)

Members considered a report that outlines the Project Initiation Document (PID) for the Service Improvement Review of Guarding. Members were informed that there had been a minor change to the PID following comments from the Independent Challenge Panel.

Members noted that the review would enable them to monitor guarding services and find out how well it is fitting in with the MPS’ physical security portfolio.

RESOLVED – That

1. the report be noted; and
2. the Project Initiation Document (PID) for the Service Improvement Review of Guarding be approved.

54. Criminal justice update

(Agenda item 14)

Members considered a report that provided an update on the work being carried out by the Department of Criminal Justice with the ultimate aim of bringing more offences to justice.

Members noted that the Effective Trial Manager programme would remove some of the administrative duties from inside the courtroom. They expressed concern that a large number of cases that had a pre-trial review did not fit the ‘Not proceeded with model’. The MPS explained that this was because these cases do not meet the Restorative Justice criteria and suggested that there may be a need for a criteria review.

The Chair said that issues around OBTJ and the inter-relationship with Penalty Notices for Disorder and convictions needs to be better understood.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted

The meeting closed at 4.30 p.m.

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