Minutes

Minutes of the Planning, Performance & Review Committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 13 February 2006 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Richard Sumray (Chair)
• Reshard Auladin
• Richard Barnes
• Karim Murji

MPA officers

• Annabel Adams (Deputy Treasurer)
• Siobhan Coldwell (Head of Scrutiny and Review)
• David Riddle (Deputy Chief Executive and Deputy Clerk)
• Jane Owen (Head of Planning and Performance)
• Ruth Hastings Iqball (Committee Officer)

MPS officers

• David Bilson (Ch Superintendent, Performance Directorate)
• Tarique Ghaffur (AC, Specialist Crime)
• Christopher Jarrett (Det. Chief Superintendent, Specialist Operations)
• Paul Minton (Commander, Strategy, Modernisation and Performance)
• Lawrence Morris (Strategic Advisor, Performance Management)
• Brian Paddick (DAC, Territorial Policing)
• David Way (Det. Superintendent, Investigations and Detections, Operation Emerald)

45. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Cindy Butts (Deputy Chair) and Dee Doocey and Rachel Whittaker.

46. Declarations of interests

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations of interest were received.

47. Minutes of the joint meeting of Finance and Planning Performance and Review Committees - 8 December 2005

(Agenda item 3)

It was noted that paragraph 32 should read ‘Resolved - That the minutes of the joint meeting, with the Finance Committee, held on 10 October 2005 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Resolved – That, with the above amendment, the minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2005 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

48. Criminal Justice update

(Agenda item 4)

Members received a report providing an update on the work being carried out by the Department of Criminal Justice. Members asked why a quarter of the trials in Magistrates’ Courts were ineffective, the effect of the lack of cell space and the percentage of penalty notice for disorder (PND) paid. It was reported that the rate of payment of PNDs was the same as for court fines. 42% were paid, 5% of recipients requested a hearing and 44% of fines were registered and that lack of cell capacity had a limiting effect on arrests.

Members asked if the rate of sanctioned detections was being driven up by ‘taken into consideration’ (TIC) detections. Members were informed that because of the Performance and Assessment Framework (PPAF), the need to match the performance of other police services and to give reassurance to victims of crime TIC detection was encouraged. However, there were safeguards around the offences that could be taken into consideration. For example, if the offence had not previously been reported it was not counted unless subsequently reported, as it would add to the crime rate. If the offence had been reported, credible evidence that the offender admitting the offence had performed it was required.

The Chair noted that the MPS’s Criminal Justice was a good news story and thanked Mark Benbow (Det Chief Superintendent, Criminal Justice) for his work. The Chair reported that Dru Sharpling, Chief Crown Prosecutor, Crown Prosecution Service would be concentrating on improving court performance in the next few months. He added that the London Criminal Justice Board was trying to improve the figure for effective trials. He also requested regular reports on cell capacity.

Resolved - That

1. the report be noted; and
2. that regular reports on cell capacity be received.

49. Operational support police Service Improvement Review – implementation report

(Agenda item 5)

Members received a report providing an update on implementation of the 13 recommendations of the Operational Support Policing Service Improvement Review approved by this Committee in December 2003.

The DAC, Territorial Policing, reported that a report had gone to the MPS’s Management Board on a new cross Directorate approach to drug crime. The Chair requested that the report also come to this Committee or Full Authority. It was also requested that this report contain further information about the new approach to tackling street level drugs piloted at Camden. Regular reports on recommendation 7, ‘To measure activities and outcomes of operational support units in the most effective and efficient way in order to improve performance management and to influence decision making about their staffing requirements.’ would be made through the performance management regime.

Members were concerned that the Operational Support Policing Service Improvement Review’s recommendations were, with hindsight, somewhat nebulous and un-measurable and so were difficult to report as completed.

Resolved - That it be approved that recommendations 2, 4, 6, 7 and 13 had been completed.

50. Inspections

(Agenda item 6)

A report was received outlining the inspection function within the MPS and its integration within performance management. It also provided an outline of integration with external agencies and how the MPA would be updated on MPS inspection activity. Members were informed that reports on inspection would be provided twice yearly. It was agreed that the report’s recommendation would be amended from ‘noting’ to supporting the reports proposals.

Resolved - That the reports proposals be supported.

51. Bureaucracy Task force update

(Agenda item 7)

Members received a progress report on the MPS’s Anti-Bureaucracy Unit (ABU). It had been circulated to members with less than five clear working days’ notice, however the Chair agreed to receive it as an urgent item under the provisions of section 100B (4b) of the Local Government Act 1972 because the issues it covered were pertinent to the budget and modernisation programmertant.

Members felt the report showed good progress in some areas. They asked why the MPS had been unable to record any efficiency savings in the Home Office’s league table over the last two years. They were informed this was the Home Office had contacted an unknown person in the MPS, and the message had not been passed to the ABU. Members were assured this would not happen again. The figures given for this year had been prepared after looking at other police services and speaking to the Finance Directorate.

Members queried the estimated savings of £14 million by the deployment of PCSOs. Members were informed that the ABU had consulted the Home Office and Cumbria Constabulary. The figure was based on the difference between the average cost of a PCSO and a constable. Members asked for an explanation for the cost of completing stop and search forms. It was noted that Home Office was considering legislative changes that would enable those stopped to access their form via a website, by post or at their local police station. Members sought confirmation that the cost of processing and keeping all the current stop and search forms had been estimated. Members were informed that the use of personal digital assistants would save money.

Members asked how, if 130 forms had been abolished, there had been a net gain in the number of forms used by the MPS. It was explained that some documents the MPS called ‘forms’ were in fact posters, leaflets, etc. Members suggested that these should be separated from forms. Additional forms had been created to meet the needs of external agencies such as the Home Office, criminal justice system and victim support.

The report stated that 3,500 people were signing on bail with negligible impact on crime figures and causing significant problems to Station Reception Officers. The Chair noted that magistrates liked to have suspects signing on bail. He suggested work needed to be undertaken to demonstrate if the MPS’s perception was correct and reported back to both the Committee and London Criminal Justice Board. He also requested that the Committee receive a report, at a future date, on the work of the ABU. It was requested this report contain information on the impact of the unit on MPS staff.

A member stated that he had anecdotal information that officers were waiting four to five hours to access AWARE computer terminals. He was informed that this was not the case, although waits of four to five hours were sometimes experienced in getting responses from the PNC Bureau, which was outside the MPS’s control.

Resolved - That

1. the progress made within the MPS in reducing the burden of bureaucracy over the last 12 months be noted;
2. that a report be received on signing on bail, and
3. a report be received in the future on the work of the ABU.

52. Corporate performance report

(Agenda item 8)

Members received a report providing an overview of MPS performance for the period April to December 2005, with comparisons with the same period in 2004 and aligned with the performance headings set out in the PPAF. It had been circulated to members with less than five clear working days’ notice, however the Chair agreed to receive it as an urgent item under the provisions of section 100B (4b) of the Local Government Act 1972 because it was essential that the performance information was presented and debated without delay.

Members sought further information on why gun crime was increasing. They were told that this was due to the availability of converted guns, the decreasing age of Trident offenders and the use of firearms for fear and intimidation. It was noted that there was no national response to gun supply and that 60% gun crime victims were from south Asia. On being asked why robbery was increasing the DAC, TP, maintained that the risk factors for robbery was the non addressing of social issues like bullying, lack of opportunity to earn a legitimate living, current society’s materialism and peer pressure. Last year, he added, the Home Office had withdrawn Safer Streets funding. Members questioned this response, noting that social conditions had improved over the last five years, young people could find employment, police officer number had increased from 28,000 to 31,000 and more police overtime was being paid. The DAC, TP, replied that a lot of the additional police were involved in counter terrorism and that despite the improving social conditions there was an increasing gap between the rich and poor. He was asked about the evidence of this link and members were told it was anecdotal. He added that on certain estates there was lack of access to legitimate income, a 'rob or be robbed' culture and availability of high value portable goods to steal. Most crime was committed in a small number of wards. The AC, Specialist Crime, added that there was a correlation between gun crime hot spots and difficult neighbourhoods. The MPS therefore felt that in areas with multiple deprivations, where serious offenders were criminal role models to the community and gangs, a multi-agency approach was needed to combat crime. Members were informed that 2% wards (15-20 wards) were responsible for 10% crime and 2% wards for 25% gun crime. However, this meant that even if the MPS brought its force to bear in these wards only 10% crime would be cut.

Members asked about Operations Strongbox and Autumn and their impact. They were told that a significant number of arrests had been made. Members requested a report on these Operations. The Chair noted that it was clear the MPS not going to meet some of its targets and that there was a need to be open about this.

Resolved – That the concerns and success outlined in the report be noted.

53. Borough performance: 2005/06 financial year (April to December)

(Agenda item 9)

This report was written at the request of members following the report on borough performance presented in October 2005. The report provided an overview of key volume crime indicators in each borough for the period April to December 2005 compared with the same period in 2004 and included Home Office iQuanta data. It also included comment on remedial work in under-performing boroughs, the dissemination of good practice, the type and effectiveness of support provided, the effectiveness and expectations of Safer Neighbourhoods and on other factors influencing borough performance. The report had been circulated to members with less than five clear working days’ notice, however Chair agreed to receive it as an urgent item under the provisions of section 100B (4b) of the Local Government Act 1972 as it provided important information.

Members asked for examples of remedial action taken to improve performance, and were informed that a member of a senior management team was removed from post because of his/her borough’s underperformance. This sent a warning message to the officer’s peers. Members noted the effect of the seasons on crime, and were informed that there was also a correlation between temperature and robbery. Questions were asked about the inconsistent compliance with Crime Report Information System (CRIS) property codes highlighted in the report. Members were informed that CRIS data quality was part of the Deputy Commissioner’s portfolio and that training days were being held for Crime Management Units. The Chair said it was a useful report and requested that the next report include the results of intervention in Waltham Forest and Newham.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

54. Specialist Crime Directorate management information

(Agenda item 10)

The Committee provided a summary of Specialist Crime Directorate’s (SCD) performance against their key objectives from April to December 2005. In answer to questions, members were informed that the presences of PCSOs provided a useful resource at crime scenes. The report was presented by the AC, Specialist Crime, who answered questions from members. The Chair expressed his pleasure at SCD’s performance in relation to kindoke (spirit possession).

Resolved - That the report be noted.

55. Specialist operations management information

(Agenda item 11)

Members received a report providing a summary of Specialist Operations Command performance against its objectives from April to December 2005.

Resolved - That the report be noted.

56. MPS investigations of rape offences - update

(Agenda item 12)

Members received a report on the findings of the MPS review into rape investigation and victim care. It had been circulated to members with less than five clear working days’ notice, however the Chair agreed to receive it as an urgent item under the provisions of section 100B (4b) of the Local Government Act 1972 because it was important.

The Chair thanked Inspector Heather Gay, Project Sapphire, for her work over the last four years. He noted that it was a better report than the last on this subject, highlighting as it did the vulnerable victims and showing where more analysis was need to get sanctioned detections turned into convictions, especially where drugs and alcohol were involved. . He did however question some of the assumptions that the report made. Members were informed that the case tracking process would assist in cradle to grave case reviews and provide more analysis across boroughs. It was noted that the Committee would receive twice-yearly reports on rape investigation to keep this subject a high profile.

Resolved – That the recommendations be supported.

57. Annual plan and targets update

(Agenda item 13)

The Committee received a report outlining progress on the development of the high level objectives, measures and targets that underpinned the operational corporate priorities for inclusion in the Annual Policing Plan 2006/2007. The Annual Policing Plan would form part of the one-year delivery mechanism for the three year Corporate Strategy agreed by the MPS’s Management Board and the MPA in September 2005. As part of the planning process, it has been agreed that the draft high-level objectives and the developing measures and targets for the operational corporate priorities be presented at this meeting. As the report had been circulated to members with less than five clear working days’ notice, however the Chair agreed to receive it as an urgent item under the provisions of section 100B (4b) of the Local Government Act 1972 because it was important for members to consider the objectives, measures and targets before submission to the full Authority.

Members felt that Londoner’s were concerned about knife crime and that targets in relation to this offence should be included in the Policing Plan, although it was acknowledged it was included in violent crime targets. It was also felt targets in relation about drug crime should be included. Members noted that there was some confusion in the report between citizen focus and safer neighbourhoods. Members also felt the quality of service, such as reception at front counters, was also an issue for Londoners.

Resolved – That

1. the proposed high-level objectives and developing measures and targets contained within this report be agreed; and
2. members comments be noted.

The meeting ended at 1.00 p.m.

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