Service Improvement Review of security guarding: final report and improvement plan

Report: 7
Date: 13 October 2005
By: Commissioner

Summary

The Service Improvement Review (SIR) of Guarding formally commenced following the approval of the Project Initiation Document by the MPS Planning, Performance and Review Committee on 17 March 2005. The accompanying report is the management summary of the Final Report, which, along with the appendices, is lodged in the MPA Members Room at Dean Farrar Street.

A. Recommendation

That members note the report.

B. Supporting information

1. The SIR has consulted widely and generated a number of recommendations that will address the following:

• Issues arising from consultation with guards.
• Impact of Security Industry Authority (SIA) Licensing.
• The formulation of business requirements for guarding.
• The improvement of management and control for guarding.
• The delivery of required service improvements.

2. The recommendations also include:

• The development of a risk management strategy to minimise the potential impact of SIA Licensing.
• The enhancement of quality assurance arrangements for guarding by increasing the frequency of intrusion testing.
• The immediate re-assessment of building security arrangements.
• The development of an overall Building Security Strategy.

3. The SIR was discussed at the MPS Management Board meeting on 12 September 2005 where it was agreed that the Director of Resources would be the MPS lead (see paragraph 6).

4. The SIR Final Report has been scheduled to be discussed at this meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) Planning, Performance and Review Committee.

Principal benefits

5. Implementation of the recommendations could contribute to the minimisation of risk to the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) estate from criminal activity, including terrorism, by increasing the effectiveness of guarding in conjunction with other physical security arrangements, particularly at the MPS’s critical sites. These benefits would be derived by means of the following:

• A strategy for minimisation of the impact of SIA licensing.
• A more systematic process for the identification of operational requirements for guarding.
• The optimisation of guarding arrangements based on cost and effectiveness.
• Measures to improve the management and control of guarding.
• Immediate action to deliver service improvements for guarding.
• The development of an overall strategy for building security.

Arrangements for implementation

6. Resources Directorate (Property Services Department and Facilities Management), working in conjunction with Diplomatic Protection Group (SO16), Directorate of Information, Risk Management Group and Business Continuity would have responsibility for developing a building security strategy. Responsibility for the development of a separate subordinate strategy to minimise the risks arising with the advent of SIA licensing would lie jointly with Facilities Management and SO16 who would also share responsibility for the suite of recommendations designed to improve the management and control of guarding. The Director of Resources would have lead responsibility for implementing the processes necessary for the optimisation of building security arrangements in cost effectiveness terms. The Director of the Outsourcing Programme will have primary responsibility for those recommendations designed to deliver service improvements with current and proposed guarding arrangements while SO16 will lead on those recommendations concerning current building security requirements.

List of abbreviations

MPA

Metropolitan Police Authority

MPS

Metropolitan Police Service

SIR

Service Improvement Review

SIA

Security Industry Authority

C. Race and equality impact

The Independent Challenge Panel, which included representation from the Disability Independent Advisory Group, played an important role in appraising the review’s findings and recommendations. There are no equality and diversity issues arising from this Review.

D. Financial implications

1. The spending implications of the Review’s recommendations are detailed in the Improvement Plans contained in the Appendices, a copy of which is lodged in the Members Room. The principal costs are:

• Possible additional full year revenue costs of £1.3M to mitigate the effects of SIA licensing. (Though Management Board did not support this being a growth bid at this time).
• Additional annual revenue costs of £26.5K for the enhancement of intrusion testing. (To be absorbed within existing budgets).

2. Until the proposed strategy for building security is developed and aligned with the MPS Estates Strategy, it is impossible to give firm estimates of the capital costs that might eventually be required for enhanced access and security control technology. However, future capital expenditure in this area would serve to reduce the number of guards required and would thereby offset increases in revenue expenses.

E. Background papers

• SIR of Guarding Final Report and Appendices are lodged at the MPA (Members Room at Dean Farrar Street).

F. Contact details

Report author: Michael Boyles, Deputy Commissioner’s Command.

For more information contact:

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

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