Minutes

Minutes of the Planning, Performance & Review Committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 14 September 2006 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Richard Sumray (Chair)
• Karim Murji (Deputy Chair)
• Tony Arbour
• Reshard Auladin
• Dee Doocey

MPA officers

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

MPS officers

• Richard Bryan (DAC, Central Operations)
• George Clarke (Chief Superintendent, Criminal Justice)
• Gary Copson (Cdr, Organisational Learning and Development)
• Angela Emery, Band A, Met Modernisation Programme
• Phil Flower (Det Chief Superintendent, Vetting Unit)
• Simon Foy (Commander, Performance Directorate)
• Alfred Hitchcock (Temp DAC, Territorial Policing)
• Mick Morris (Superintendent, Safer Neighbourhoods)
• Shaun Sawyer (Cdr, Specialist Crime Directorate)
• Pat Shiel (Superintendent, Territorial Policing)
• Mark Simmons (Cdr, Territorial Policing)
• Janet Williams (Commander, Met Modernisation Programme)

1. Apologies

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Richard Barnes (member) and Annabel Adams (Deputy Treasurer).

The Chair congratulated Alf Hitchcock and Janet Williams on their success in the promotion board to the rank of DAC.

2. Declarations of interests

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations of interest were received.

3. Minutes of the meeting held – 8 June 2006

(Agenda item 3)

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 June 2006 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

4. Criminal Justice update

(Agenda item 4)

Members received a report giving 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 asked if the improvement in the number of offences ‘taken into consideration’ (TIC) figures could be sustained. They were informed that it could be, using the model used by West Yorkshire police. Members requested an in-depth report on offences bought to justice as part of the next Criminal Justice update report.

Members were informed the Libra magistrates court system, over 10 years in preparation, might never be introduced. This could affect the rollout of the NSPIS case preparation application, for which the MPS had central government funding for only a certain time. If this happened, a report would be bought to the MPA because of the funding implications.

Resolved - That

1. the report be noted; and
2. an in-depth report on offences bought to justice be included in the next Criminal Justice update report.

5. Corporate performance report: financial year to date 2006/07

(Agenda item 5)

(This item was heard after agenda item 13). Members received an overview of MPS performance for the period April to July 2006. the report included and analyses of knife crime within the MPS area and domestic violence, with particular focus on World Cup related incidents.

The Chair noted that there were no indicators for counter terrorism and challenging crime wards. The Commander, Performance Directorate, stated that work was still being done on these. Counter terrorism targets, a difficult topic to place targets around, were being considered. Targets were nearly completed for challenging crime wards. Members were informed there were no targets for the percentage of officers on front line duties, as nationally there was disagreement as to whether PCSOs should be included in the figure.

The Commander, Performance Directorate, explained to members the need to revise Domestic Violence arrest targets to cater for the new definition introduced in April 2005. He explained that whilst the arrest rate figure would be considerable lower than the previous figures this was due to the fact offence pool included all Domestic Violence incidents as opposed to those just with power of arrest. The Commander pointed out however, that the general trend is a continued improvement in performance. Members agreed the recommendation. The Chair suggested that analysis of the correlation between occasions such as the world cup and Christmas and domestic violence should be shared with other organisations.

Resolved - That the report be noted

6. Borough performance 2006/07 financial year (April to July)

(Agenda item 6)

A report was received providing an overview of key volume crime indicators in each borough for the period April to July 2006 compared with the same period in 2005. It also included a section on theft of satellite navigation systems and number plates from vehicles.

The Temporary DAC, Territorial Policing, provided members with the figures for August. With relation to the theft from vehicles, he noted that one in 10 thefts involved that of number plates. This volume could not be solely put down to the avoidance of congestion charging and traffic fines, so he had commissioned work to investigate the cause. He informed members that in the future new vehicles would have number plates that would be destroyed by removal. The police had produced publicity material asking owners of satellite navigation systems to hide them when not in use and remove evidence of their possession, like tell-tale marks, in the car.

Members were informed how the MPS’s four Crime Control Strategy meetings were now followed by a Practitioners' Forum, so the learning could be carried forward. Future Crime Control Strategy meetings would highlight citizen focus, rape, domestic violence and crime types.

The Chair asked about the dramatic fall in burglary in Hackney and how the good practice from this was being shared.

Resolved - That the report be noted

7. Central Operations Directorate report

(Agenda item 7)

(This item was heard after agenda item 4). A report was received summarising the Central Operations (CO) Directorate’s performance against key objectives from April to June 2006 and provided a commentary on highlights, exceptions and examples of operational success. 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 delaying the report to the next meeting would render the report out of date. The DAC, CO, informed members that the report particularly highlighted the Traffic and Transport Organisational Command Units (OCUs). He added that he was endeavouring to get the rest of the Directorate similarly outcome and externally focussed.

Members asked about the impact of the GLA’s free travel for under 16’s on crime figures. They were assured that there had been no increase in crime, but crime locations had moved to buses and the vicinity of bus stops. There was also a correlation with the period before and after school hours. The DAC, CO, was concerned that no conclusions should be drawn until sufficient analysis of crime statistics had taken place. He added that his Directorate was working with Transport for London and Safer Schools officers to mitigate any changes in crime patterns. A further report on this issue was requested.

Members felt the information in the report should be shared with boroughs and community groups, such as CPCGs. The DAC, CO, agreed. The Chair welcomed the direction in which the CO performance report was going, but noted that some of the performance indicators needed tightening up.

Resolved - That

1. the current performance within Central Operations be noted;
2. the development of Capital City Policing measures and performance framework be noted; and
3. report on the impact of free travel for under 16s be received at a future meeting.

8. Review of the strategic priorities for 2007/08 and development of the corporate business plan

(Agenda item 8)

(This item was heard after agenda item 12). Members received a report updating them on the progress of the strategic priorities; the integrated strategic financial/planning framework and development of the corporate business plan. Members were informed that there would be a joint meeting of the Finance and Planning, Performance and Review Committees in the coming week, with the aim of producing a three-year corporate business and finance plan.

Resolved – That

1. the current seven strategic priorities remain unchanged for 2007/08; and
2. the activities being undertaken in the development of corporate business plan be noted.

9. Youth crime report

(Agenda item 9)

A report was received detailing the aims and objectives for Safer Schools Partnerships, together with issues around information sharing and intelligence gathering. The work of Operation Blunt in tackling knife crime in London was described in detail.

The Chair questioned why the report spoke in the future tense when the Safer Schools Partnerships had been in existence for some time. Members were informed that roles of Safer Schools officers and Youth Offender Teams had varied wildly. The role of officers was now being clarified and key performance indicators applied. Although it was recognised that it was difficult to quantify effectiveness in this area, it was felt more measures of success were needed. A briefing note was requested providing in-depth information about the cause and effect of youth crime.

Resolved – That

1. members note the report and support the work currently taking place.
2. that a briefing note be prepared providing in-depth information about the cause and effect of youth crime

10. Call grading – new performance measurements

(Agenda item 10)

A report was received with recommendations in support of the MPS performance target ‘to improve the citizen experience in their contacts with the police’ and the Demand Management Best Value Review 2003, which recommended that response time measurements be developed based upon average response times. It proposes that four new measurements be introduced:

• % of CAD calls graded as requiring an ‘immediate’ response.
• Average time of responding to calls graded as requiring an ‘immediate’ response.
• Median time of responding to all calls graded as requiring an ‘immediate’ response.
• % of calls graded as requiring an ‘immediate’ response that are responded to in more that 30 minutes.

Resolved - That

1. the new performance measurements and method of monitoring outlined in the report be adopted by the MPS; and
2. corporate performance targets for individual BOCUs and the MPS as a whole be not set during the first year of any new performance measurements whilst baselines are established.

11. Rape update

(Agenda item 11)

This report provided members with a summary of the MPS performance on rape investigations in London during the period April to July 2006 and an update on the progress on the MPS Rape Review of 2005. Members suggested that the percentages in the report distorted the picture when the numbers involved were very small.

A member, who had recently acted as a juror in a rape case, suggested that evidence obtained should focus on consent, as this was a key feature in any defence in court. Members were informed that similar feedback had been received from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and that a defence lawyer would be involved in training Sapphire officers. Members asked what was driving the increase in rapes of under 18 year olds. They were informed that the figure was not increasing, but that at 30% of rapes the figure was too high and driven by the public attitude to sexual behaviour.

The Chair added that he chaired the Criminal Justice Board on rape convictions where ‘no crime’ was a cause of concern, as was the inappropriate use of forensic services, and the need for offender profiling. He asked why half of the cases submitted that went to the CPS were not proceeded with.

Resolved - That the report be noted

12. Action plan to improve PNC performance in the MPS

(Agenda item 12)

(This item follow item 6.) This report informed members of the ongoing MPS commitment to improving Police National Computer (PNC) performance in the MPS. It stated that performance was slowly improving but required significant coordinated action by the courts, OCUs and PNC Bureau (PNCB).

The Commander, Specialist Crime Directorate, informed members although this work was important, complete success could not be achieved without an additional work force within the MPS and electronic court resulting. As this work was only one of many competing priorities, the additional workforce would not be forthcoming. Electronic court resulting was outside the remit of the MPS.

The Chair expressed surprise that OCUs were taking 52 days to supply the PNCB with court results and felt this was not good enough. The two members who were also magistrates in juvenile courts stated that they did not ask for PNC records when sentencing as the records were never up to date. However the Chair recognised that there the MPS’s performance had to be seen in relation to the poor performance of courts.

Resolved - That members note the report and action plan to improve PNC performance in the MPS.

13. Bureaucracy Task Force update

(Agenda item 13)

(This item was heard after agenda item 7). Members received a progress report on the work of the MPS Anti-Bureaucracy Unit (ABU). Members noted that that the Home Office had appointed an Acting Chief Constable for six months to investigate the impact of unnecessary bureaucracy on front line officers. She had visited the MPS and produced twelve key initiatives and comments. All of which had subsequently been actioned. Members requested a briefing note on these initiatives. Members recognised that some bureaucracy was necessary, and welcomed the ABU’s incorporation into a new Value for Money Unit.

Resolved – That

1. the progress made within the MPS on reducing the burden of bureaucracy over the last seven months be noted; and.
2. a briefing note be received on the twelve key initiatives identified by the Home Office’s Acting Chief Constable.

14. Inspections

(Agenda item 14)

This report provided members with an update on the inspection function within the MPS and its integration within the performance management of the MPS. It also provides an outline of 2006/07 inspection programme.

Resolved – That the report be noted

15. Security Clearance Processes Improvement Review - implementation report

(Agenda item 15)

Members received a report on the progress being made in delivering the recommendations of the MPA’s Security Clearance Processes Improvement Review and of the decision of the MPS’s Management Board to establish a unified command embracing the Personnel Security Group – Staff Vetting, CO4 Character Enquiry Centre, SCD 10 (5) PNC Bureau and SCD 10 (6) Overseas Visitors Registration Office (OVRS). It was explained that this would bring about economies of scale and greater flexibility of staff. The Chair stated that as this was a recommendation arising from the MPA’s Security Clearance Processes Improvement Review it should be submitted to this Committee. He also asked what was the logic in leaving SO12 out of the Personnel Security Group.

Members asked if the interim arrangements were robust enough and if the MPS could cope with vetting 2000 new PCSOs. They were informed that the MPS had reached maximum capacity by tweaking the process and that performance would inevitable deteriorate as more security clearances were requested. External agencies would be similarly pushed to cope.

Resolved – That

1. the report be noted, in particular the key decision of Management Board to form a new Operational Information Services Command (OIS) and that the recommendations of the Service Improvement Review (SIR) were now embraced within the OIS command project; and
2. the decision of the Management Board be formally submitted to this Committee for ratification.

16. Planning Performance and Review Committee workplan 2006-7

(Agenda item 16)

Members received a draft work plan for the Planning Performance and Review Committee for 2006-07 for endorsement. Members requested a report on child trafficking. This would be included in the report on Operation Maxim to be received in November. They also requested reports on citizen focus and quality of service. It was suggested this should be included in the corporate performance report that came to each meeting.

Resolved – That subject to members’ comments, the work plan for 2006-07 be endorsed.

17. Change of committee meeting date

(Agenda item 17)

This report sought the Committee’s agreement to changing the date of the Planning, Performance and Review Committee currently scheduled for 2.00 pm, 15 January 2007.

Resolved – the Corporate Governance Committee timetabled for 2.00 pm, 15 January 2007 be rescheduled to 16 January at 10 am.

The meeting finished at 4.55 pm.

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