Criminal justice update

Report: 4
Date: 14 September 2006
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report provides an update on the work being carried out by the Department of Criminal Justice with the ultimate aim of bringing more offences to justice.

A. Recommendation

That Members note the report.

B. Supporting information

National Strategy for Police Information Services (NSPIS) custody and case preparation

1. Following confirmation of Home Office funding, contracts were signed between the Metropolitan Policing Authority and SunGard Vivista on 2 June 2006.

2. The building of the Data Centres to support the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) NSPIS Custody and case preparation (CuCP) application was completed on 7 August 2006.

3. Roll out of the NSPIS CuCP application across the MPS is timetabled to start in September 2006 and to conclude by 31 March 2008. The MPS NSPIS team has begun working with the first six Borough Operational Command Units (BOCUs) scheduled to go live and has planned preparatory activity for all BOCUs commencing eight months prior to each go live date.

4. In order to provide an electronic link between NSPIS Case Preparation and magistrates courts (other than those served by the Thames Magistrates Court server) there is reliance upon the introduction of the new Libra magistrates’ court system. The roll out of Libra is significantly delayed and may impact upon the ability to roll out the full NSPIS CuCP application across London by 31 March 2008. In view of this the current preparatory work being undertaken by the MPS NSPIS team includes a review of options in the event that the Libra system is not available to support the roll out of NSPIS Case Preparation by April 2007 when all BOCUs served by the Thames Magistrates Court server will have gone live with NSPIS CuCP.

Sanction detections

5. The overall Sanction Detection rate for the performance year to date (April – July 2006) is 19.6% against the target of 20%.

• In April 06 the sanction detection rate was 17%
• In May 06 the sanction detection rate was 19%
• In June 06 the sanction detection rate was 21.4%
• In July 06 the sanction detection rate was 20.9%

6. Offences Brought to Justice (OBTJ)

• The OBTJ target for 2006/7 for London is 185,000. The MPS contribution has been agreed at 181,212
• London (including British Transport Police and City of London Police) has achieved 47,576 for the performance Year to date (April 06 to June 06).
• The MPS had 16,486 OBTJ in June 06 (monthly target 15,101), which gives 45,114 OBTJ for the performance year to date (April 06 to June 06). This is only 189 short of the target set for this period.

These are broken down as follows for the performance year to date:

Appendix 1 shows a chart demonstrating OBTJ breakdown

Persistent Young Offenders (PYO)

7. Police National Computer (PNC) performance results against the 71-Day Target:

• Current MPS 3-month average performance (arrest to sentence time for PYOs) between March and May 2006 was 82.2 days. The latest monthly figure (May-06) is 73.1 days.

8. Current Trial management performance (June 2006) PYTD

• Ineffective Trials Magistrates’ Court 22.5% 23.1%
• Effective Trials Magistrates’ Court 43.2% 42.0%
• Ineffective Trials Crown Court 14.1%* 14.4%
• Effective Trial Crown Court 60.9%* 59.0%

Charts detailing this information are available in Appendix 2 and Appendix 3 [1].

Statutory charging

9. Statutory charging involves the MPS and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) working together to ensure that the best evidence available is obtained and that offenders are charged with the right offence. ‘Working together’ is a key issue that requires good communication between the CPS and MPS.

10. Prosecution Team Performance Management (PTPM) is being used by the LCJB and the Joint Steering Group to monitor Criminal Justice performance, including 'charging'.

11. PTPM Seminars took place in May and it is considered that more time needed before any assessment is made on the effect of PTPM. Early insights show that there are a number of issues with data compliance, which are being addressed.

Emerald Warrants Management System (EWMS)

12. The MPS has already reached the 2006/07 target for reducing Fail to Appear (FTA) warrants to 8500. The MPS currently hold 8400 FTA warrants which is a reduction of 10.6% from April 2006. However, despite continuing efforts to improve the quality of bail enquiries, 2000 FTA warrants are still being issued each month.

13. The Operation Emerald Warrants Management team are auditing each MPS BOCU to ensure the integrity of the warrants system. This is followed by a visit to the BOCU whereupon improvement of performance is discussed and best practice is shared.

14. A multi-agency team has convened to assess the feasibility of installing a link to the EWMS in magistrates’ courts. This could improve performance with regard to timeliness and would reduce the amount of double keying that currently takes place across agencies. A scoping report that includes costs has been completed and is scheduled to be presented at the London Criminal Justice Board (LCJB) in September.

15. Assistant Commissioner Godwin is the current chair of the LCJB. An area of particular focus is ‘Enforcement’, both FTA warrants and Community Order Breach warrants. To this end, two multi-agency teams have been formed to tackle these issues. An enforcement sub-group has also been formed which reports directly to the LCJB.

Asset recovery

16. Her Majesty’s Courts Services (HMCS) and the CPS both collect data on asset recovery. There are four recognised targets:

• The volume of orders made. Target 2006/07 increase by 20% to 455
• The value of orders made. Target 2006/07 to increase by 35% to £17m
• Reducing the collectable balance rate for orders made after the introduction of the Proceeds of Crimes Act (POCA). Target 2006/07 to reduce outstanding orders by 25%
• Reducing the number of outstanding order made pre Proceeds of Crimes Act. Target 2006/07 to reduce outstanding orders by 35%

17. The current position based on latest figures for June 2006 is that progress for the first quarter would indicate that London is broadly on target with 101 orders having been made. These orders currently equate to over £5.3m. Both these targets have an amber/green rating.

18. The reduction of the collectable balance of post POCA cases started very well but has remained constant, which is causing an adverse trend. Although the target is marked amber/green attention will be required to reverse the trend.

19. Enforcement of orders that go to warrant is the responsibility of the Civilian Enforcement Officers employed by HMCS. Many of the warrants are deemed high risk therefore there is a problem in enforcing them. Whilst the MPS supports such enforcement, it must compete with other demands for BOCU resources. A bid has been made to the Proceeds of Crime disbursement panel for a small pan-London police unit that can enforce these warrants and, where appropriate, organise additional support from specialist units such as Territorial Support Group (TSG) or firearms units. An outcome is currently awaited on the success of the bid.

Detections

Taken into Consideration (TICs)

20. Performance on TICs continues to show a substantial improvement. The ‘Wipe the slate clean’ initiative, which was rolled out across the MPS in 2005 seeks to convert a single detection for one volume crime into several detections. This had a significant impact upon performance. 4483 offences were Taken into Consideration in the first quarter of 2006-7 and June showed the second highest monthly total of 2103.

Cannabis warnings

21. The new Cannabis Warning booklet form is now in place across the MPS. 6366 warnings were issued in the first quarter of 2006-7. June showed the highest monthly total of 2747, with a projected yearly total for this year of 28,000.

Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs)

22. There has been a 15% increase in the number of PNDs issued in the first quarter of 2006-7 against the same period for 2005-6.

23. Guidance, training and best practice are being presented to BOCUs in relation to PNDs. The aim is to ensure that BOCUs are using PNDs in a way that will benefit communities, such as targeting anti-social behaviour, and also that core officers are aware of how to issue PNDs correctly.

Detections and investigation

24. A programme of inspection and support visits for BOCUs commenced in July. The first wave of visits has concentrated upon supporting the six high volume BOCUs in terms of acquisitive crime. The visits include an in-depth review of crime management processes, which is aimed at ensuring that there are no missed detection opportunities. Following the visit to the BOCU a full report and agreed action plan is developed. Individual Commanders will then oversee progress on these plans for each of their cluster of BOCUs. The remaining MPS BOCUs will receive the same level of support throughout the performance year.

Victim Focus Desks

25. The MPS are currently introducing Victim Focus Desks based within Borough Operational Command Units (BOCU). It is anticipated that each BOCU will have a Victim Focus Desk by April 2007.

The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime

26. Presently investigating officers are to discharge the obligations contained within Code of Practice for Victims of Crime. Awareness raising and publicity material continues to be produced by Operation Emerald in relation to the obligations contained within the Code, together with liaison with all link officers on BOCUs to ensure the Code is promoted to frontline staff. In addition:

• the Crime Recording Information System (CRIS) has been updated to make identification of vulnerability/intimidation mandatory together with pop-up messages when data is entered in certain fields
• a performance management framework is being developed which monitors compliance by borough
• the Code has been incorporated in recruit training, publishing Notices and articles in the Job newspaper and conducting seminars and briefings.

The Witness Charter

27. The Witness Charter is due for full national implementation by April 2008. There will be a phased implementation plan in selected pathfinder areas from April 2007. Whilst the MPS is not a pathfinder area we anticipate we will be meeting the responsibilities contained within the Witness Charter by April 2007, in line with the roll out of Victim Focus Desks. Operation Emerald intends to programme manage the introduction of the Witness Charter within other business groups. The obligations contained within the Witness Charter clearly have resource implications on the MPS. We are seeking to mitigate its impact and support officers performing patrol duties.

No Witness, No Justice

28. The National No Witness, No Justice national team recently conducted their final review of victim and witness care in London. The review found “All those involved with implementing and delivering witness care in London should be proud of what they have achieved so far. The final review has shown that victims and witnesses throughout London are getting a considerably enhanced service compared to the pre-witness care service. Major achievements highlighted by the review include the provision of information to victims and witnesses through a single point of contact and via their preferred means of contact; the consideration of victim and witness needs at the point of charge; and the strong awareness across agencies of their obligations under the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime.”

Persistent Young Offenders (PYOs)

29. As stated earlier, ‘Enforcement’ and improvement of performance in relation to PYOs are areas of particular focus for the LCJB. Recent PNC data from April 2006 reveals that in London is not meeting the arrest to sentence target of 71 days.

30. The LCJB Performance Team is taking action to produce PYO data on a Borough basis to enable Borough Criminal Justice Groups (BCJGs) to analyse data and address performance more effectively.

31. The work of the multi-agency PYO Steering Group is continuing. Research has been conducted into delays in PYO cases sent to Crown Courts, with reference to the small number of cases adversely affecting London’s performance. Work is continuing in relation to appropriate interventions by the PYO Steering Group in the long-running cases that have been identified.

32. In relation to Magistrates’ Courts, Alice Poole from PA Consulting has been provided by the Office of Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR) as a support resource to conduct assessments at three courts in August; these are Thames, Newham and West London. Developing the use of the assessment checklist, members of the PYO Steering Group will then also be assessing Camberwell Green in August. Assessments of Barnet, Redbridge and possibly Wandsworth are planned for September. By the end of this assessment schedule, it is intended that those courts accounting for over 60% of the PYO impact on London will have been visited.

33. It is anticipated that The Solicitor General, Mike O’Brien will be visiting BCJGs and courts on three occasions between October and November to discuss the PYO issue. The locations of these visits have yet to be decided.

LCJB update

Virtual Courts initiative

34. The purpose of this initiative is to allow speedy disposal of first court hearings, subsequent to guilty plea, and sentencing. The initial proposal is to install live video links between sixteen custody suites in police stations and their corresponding magistrate’s courts. This could deliver significant economies in court time due to the high proportion of defendants charged who plead guilty on first appearance.

35. The planned timescale is to commence with installations in April 2007, with remaining suites equipped by 1 April 2008. The scope of the initiative will be lower level offences in magistrates’ courts involving adult defendants only. The full business plan for video conferencing links will go to Ministers for funding agreement. This is a very significant initiative in terms of both its scale and innovation.

Inside Justice Week

36. Inside Justice Week (IJW) is the OCJRs annual campaign to engage the public in the work of the Criminal Justice System through a series of coordinated national events and announcements. Representatives from criminal justice agencies, Victim Support London, the Legal Services Commission, Greater London Authority and the Independent Advisory Group took part in a ‘blue sky’ planning day on 5 June to generate IJW ideas in support of London’s aim to lead the way. As a result, a cross-agency Planning Group has been formed to take forward the IJW programme, initially by developing proposals for the LCJB to consider.

37. The IJW Planning Group held its first meeting on 3 July and a summary of proposed activities was presented to the LCJB. A range of events are being considered comprising those that have worked well in the past or are already planned, as well as some new and innovative ideas.

38. There is a resource implication to all criminal justice agencies and members of the LCJB were asked for a commitment of staff and funds from their individual agencies to help fund the activities.

List of abbreviations

BOCU

Borough Operational Command Unit

CPS

Crown Prosecution Service

CuCP

Custody and Case Preparation

EWMS

Emerald Warrant Management System

FTA

Fail To Appear

HCMS

Her Majesty’s Court Service

IJW

Inside Justice Week

LCJB

London Criminal Justice Board

MPS

Metropolitan Police Service

NSPIS

National Strategy for Police Information Services

OBTJ

Offences Bought to Justice

OCJR

Office of Criminal Justice Reform

PTPM

Prosecution Team Performance Monitoring

PYO

Persistent Young Offender

SGV

SunGard Vivista

TIC

Taken into consideration

C. Race and equality impact

There are no new equality or diversity implications at this time.

D. Financial implications

There are currently no financial implications. However should the Libra application continue to be delayed this will have an adverse effect upon the rollout of NSPIS CuCP and will have financial implications for the MPS.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Chief Superintendent George Clarke, Territorial Policing, MPS

For more information contact:

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

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