Draft Planning, Performance and Review Committee annual report 2005/06

Report: 13
Date: 8 June 2006
By: Clerk and Chief Executive

Summary

This is the annual report for the Planning, Performance and Review Committee (PPRC) for the year July 2005 to March 2006. It describes the main projects, topics considered and achievements of the committee for the year. This report will be a key input in the Authority’s overall Annual Report.

A. Recommendation

That the Committee agrees the draft annual report for PPRC for presentation to Full Authority and/ or suggest any additional areas or changes required.

B. Supporting information

Introduction

1. The Planning, Performance and Review Committee (PPRC) responsibilities include: monitoring performance against targets; overseeing the development of annual and corporate plans, including the setting of targets; advising the Authority on targets to be set in annual and corporate plans; scrutinising areas of performance; discharging the Authority’s responsibilities as a best value authority (including the overseeing of best value or service improvement projects) and monitoring MPS performance in the context of the criminal justice system as a whole.

2. These duties are carried out in accordance with equal opportunities and equalities legislation. The PPRC positively promotes the Authority’s commitment to equalities and diversity.

3. Detailed below are the main achievements and areas of work for the PPRC from July 2005 to March 2006. These are detailed in four main sections: planning, performance, review and criminal justice issues.

Overview of performance

4. Overall, there has been a significant improvement in the sanction detection rates across the majority of crime types during 2005-06. This has been achieved while reducing total notifiable offences for the third consecutive year. The MPS should be congratulated for this achievement.

5. Total notifiable offences dropped by 3.1%. This is the third consecutive year showing a reduction. For the first time in five years, the total number of offences is below one million. The number of murders has dropped by 10.2% (20 offences). This is in spite of the deaths caused by the atrocities of July 7.

6. It is, however, important that the MPS maintain the focus on performance, as beneath this top-level achievement there are increases in robbery, vehicle crime although the offence of theft of a motor has decreased by 9.5%. Gun enabled crime and for the first time in four years burglary dwelling has increased, by 1.7%.

Performance details

7. The data released shows the following related targets have not been met:

• Robbery: target of 2% reduction in crime, actual 16% increase.
• Violent crime: target of 2% reduction in crime, actual 0.4% increase. Target of 25% Sanction Detection rate, actual 23.4%.
• Burglary Dwelling: target of 4% reduction in crime, actual 1.7% increase.
• Rape: target of 38% Detection rate, actual 36%.
• Homophobic SD rate: target 22%, actual 21.6%.
• Gun enabled crime: target of 4% reduction in crime, actual 4.2% increase in crime.

8. Of the related targets it is only violent crime where two targets were not met (Detection and Sanction Detection).

Issues behind the targets

9. The increase of 16.1% for robbery offences is of some concern. The MPS must ensure that the reasons for the increase are communicated to the MPA and that strategies to reduce robbery are discussed with the Authority. The MPS needs to reassure members and Londoners that all possible action is being taken. This paper proposes that the Planning, Performance and Review Committee should place particular emphasis on their monitoring of trends and patterns in the robbery figures.

10. The level of robbery is the key driver behind the rise in total Violent Crime (+0.4%). since violence against the person has decreased by 2.3%, sexual offences by 5.3% and rape by 2 %.

11. The MPS missed the violent crime sanction detection rate by 1.6%, but the end of year rate of 23.4% is 2.7% higher than last year.

12. While it is disappointing that the detection rate for rape has missed the target by 2%, the sanction detection rate target of 27% was exceeded at 31.2% - The MPA hopes that this considerable improvement continues into 2006-07.

13. A 4% reduction target for Gun Enabled Crime was set, but 2005-06 saw a 4.2% increase in this area. Performance in the last four months has improved considerably compared to the previous eight months. Members will look for this level of performance to continue.

14. 82% of people polled by MORI has seen more or the same level of policing in London – that is ten per cent from last year. 62% feel safe walking in their neighbourhood in the evening - a rise of 3%. Overall, the figures have been rising steadily since they began to be collated. 53% in the MORI were satisfied or very satisfied with local policing – up by 13%. Victim satisfaction with their ease of contact with the police has increased from 82% to 86%. Victims' satisfaction with the actions taken by police has increased from 64% to 78% in one year. Victim satisfaction with being kept informed of developments rose from 48% to 59% and finally, victim satisfaction with their treatment has gone up from 86% to 92% and with the overall service they received from 68% to 79%.

Reporting

15. The performance reports presented to PPRC have continued to improve. In addition to regular TP, SCD and SO reports the committee now receives reports from CO.

Planning

16. The Planning process was very challenging and there was a major restructure of the MPS planning team involved part way through the year.

17. However, March saw the successful production of the 2006 – 2007 Policing Plan. The document also incorporated the three-year strategy, a major piece of work that also involved widespread consultation both internally and externally. The 2006 – 2007 Policing Plan focuses on a smaller number of key targets that compliment the PPAF system. Reaching this situation took considerable effort on the part of both the MPA and the MPS.

18. Work on better integrating the financial and policing plan began during the year but more work needs to be done to develop the links between the two processes.

19. A debrief session has taken place and the MPS will be reporting on the results to the MPA.

• www.mpa.gov.uk/downloads/reports/policingplan2006-07.pdf

NCRS

20. Work has continued to improve NCRS compliance at the MPS. The poor results of the previous audit resulted in an action plan being put into place. The Audit Commission has recently completed another audit. We are hopeful that the results will be considerably more positive.

Review and scrutiny

21. During 2005/06, the committee continued its role in respect of service improvement reviews (best value).

22. The committee approved the final report and implementation plan from the service improvement review of security guarding of the MPS estate. This review identified concerns about the cost efficiency of some or the outsourced guarding arrangements, the guarding solutions being employed across the estate and the means of optimising the cost effectiveness of guarding arrangements. The recommendations also included:

• Developing a building security strategy and ensuring a statement of requirements for the security of all MPS buildings is maintained and kept up-to-date.
• Optimising investment in building security by using a combination of guards, security processes and technology
• Improving the management and control of guards.

23. An implementation plan was drawn up to address the problems identified in the report. It is envisaged that implementation of this plan will enable the MPS to minimise the risk to the MPS estate of criminal activity, including terrorism. The committee raised some concerns about the potential cost implications arising out of the review, which are now being monitored by the MPS and this committee.

24. PPRC continued to monitor the implementation of service improvement and best value reviews of Custody Capacity, Security Clearances and Managing Demand. It also received confirmation that the implementation of the recommendations of the Operational Support Policing service improvement review is complete.

25. The committee received a report on the findings of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) best value inspection, Operational Support Policing. The inspectors judged that the service was good and had promising prospects for improvement with the implementation plans that had been developed. The committee was pleased with this finding and felt that it reflected that the MPS had learnt from the previous best value/service improvement reviews it had undertaken.

26. PPRC has continued to monitor the implementation of the recommendations made to the MPA and the MPS by its scrutinies. The committee felt that sufficient progress had been made in embedding the recommendations of the CDRP scrutiny and that there was no longer a need to monitor progress. The committee received reports updating us on the progress made by the MPS in implementing the Rape Scrutiny. Whilst excellent progress has been made, there are still concerns particularly about rates of attrition. The committee will continue to this monitor progress in this area.

27. During 2005/06, the committee received a report on the overall benefits that have been delivered by the HMIC ‘Going Local’ programme. There were three consistent themes arising out of borough inspection – the absence of a demand management strategy, the need to further develop performance management and the need to fully implement the national intelligence model. These are now being addressed by the MPS. The committee was also informed about how the MPS is changing its internal inspection processes in order to reflect the changing external environment. The committee welcomed the principles laid out by the MPS particularly recognising the need to avoid duplication between internal and external inspection and that intervention needs to be specifically targeted.

C. Race and equality impact

There continues to be differences in the satisfaction rates of victims of hate crime. Although there has been an improvement in this area, the committee will continue to monitor the differential detection rates and satisfaction rates of victims of hate crime through its reporting structure.

D. Financial implications

None.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Jane Owen and Siobhan Coldwell, MPA

For more information contact:

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

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