Minutes - draft

Please note these minutes are currently draft and are subject to committee approval.

Minutes of the Planning, Performance & Review Committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 16 January 2007 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Richard Sumray (Chair)
• Karim Murji (Deputy Chair)
• Tony Arbour
• Dee Doocey (item 1-8 and 10)

MPA officers

• Sally Benton (Corporate Information Officer) (item 8)
• Siobhan Coldwell (Head of Scrutiny and Review)
• Liz Orsborn (Management Accountant)
• David Riddle (Deputy Chief Executive and Deputy Clerk)
• Ruth Hastings Iqball (Committee Officer)

MPS officers

• Caroline Bates (Det Superintendent, SCD5)
• George Clarke (Chief Superintendent, Criminal Justice)
• Philip Flower (Detective Chief Superintendent, Vetting Unit)
• Simon Foy (Commander, Performance Directorate)
• Tariq Ghaffur (Assistant Commissioner, Central Operations)
• Alf Hitchcock (Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Territorial Policing)
• Bob Hunter (Inspector, Modernisation Operations)
• Robin Merrett (Ch Superintendent, Modernisation Operations)
• Peter Spindler (Det Ch Superintendent, SCD5)
• Sue Wilkinson (Commander, Serious Crime Directorate)
• John Yates (Assistant Commissioner, Standards and Intelligence Command)

32. Apologies

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Reshard Auladin and Richard Barnes (members).

33. Declarations of interests

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations of interest were received.

34. Minutes of the meeting held 9 November 2006

(Agenda item 3)

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 November 2006 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

35. 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 with the ultimate aim of bringing more offences to justice. In response to requests at earlier committee meetings, appendix 2 contained a report on offences taken into consideration (TICs) and appendix 3 a report on cannabis warnings. The Chair thanked the report author for these and informed members that a report would be presented to the full Authority in March informing all members of the strategic issues facing the criminal justice system.

In relation to TICs, members were told that it was not MPS policy to do prison visits requesting prisoners ‘wipe the slate clean’, as these had got other police services into ethical difficulties. MPS officers made post sentence, pre conviction visits, only visiting convicted prisoners if more intelligence became available. The MPS’s TICs still remained higher than most police services.

Members were informed that the further research commissioned by the Drugs Directorate on cannabis warnings would be completed by July and be reported to the MPA. (Note: It has since been agreed this should be the Co-ordination and Policing Committee)

In answer to questions, members were informed that the Libra court computer project started in the early 90s, but had not been delivered. The Treasury was now asking if it was worth continuing with, because although it bought business benefits to the police if had not to the courts. The courts served by the Thames Magistrates Court server did not need Libra as they had an NSPIS internet hub, however it would be very expensive to duplicate this across London in place of Libra.

Victim care PCSOs were not employed at expense of Safer Neighbourhood PCSOs, and their duties did not overlap. The MPS was at present recruiting victim care PCSOs from amongst PCSOs with two-year service thus providing a career and development opportunity for PCSOs.

Resolved - That the report be noted.

36. Corporate performance report; financial year to date 2006/07

(Agenda item 5)

This report provided an overview of MPS performance for the period April to November 2006. It included an overview of performance with respect to the critical 13 high level indicators and further information on performance with respect to other indicators and targets. The Chair noted that increased performance was in part due to the employment of additional officers and PCSOs. He added that the wording in relation to gun crime in appendix 2 should have shown it above target.

Questions were asked about domestic violence disposal figures. Members were informed that research had shown that positive intervention was as effective as disposal in preventing domestic violence.

Members asked if and when targets would be put around counter terrorism and challenging wards. They were informed that that there was difficulty in refining activity to one measure and that there might be a need for a small number of high-level indicators. The MPS had spoken to the two members with responsibility for counter terrorism, Toby Harris and Reshard Auladin, who had indicated that they were content with the work being undertaken. Toby Harris would be bringing the issue before the next full Authority. With regard to lack of targets for challenging wards, members were informed that it was difficult to disaggregate a ward’s statistics from those for the rest of the borough. The committee felt having critical performance areas without targets did not put the MPS in a good light and that in future targets should be considered earlier in the process of selecting critical performance areas.

The Chair stated that a performance framework was now emerging around Safer Neighbourhood policing and it was agreed a report be received on this at the next meeting.

Resolved - That

1. the report be noted;
2. targets should, in future, be considered earlier in the process of selecting critical performance areas; and
3. a report be received on the performance framework for Safer Neighbourhood policing at the next meeting.

37. Borough crime performance: April to November 2006

(Agenda item 6)

Members received a report providing an overview of key volume crime indicators in each borough for the period April to November 2006 compared with April to November 2005.

It was noted that performance in Camden was worse than its peers and had been declining. Members were informed that the provision of central resources, increased funding and the filling of the vacancies were turning around this situation. The Chair suggested that the next report include borough performance over a longer period, such as four or five years, to put borough performance into perspective.

The Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Territorial Policing, who was moving to a new post, was thanked for his work.

Resolved - That

1. the report be noted; and
2. the next report include borough performance over a longer period, such as four or five years.

38. Child abuse investigation update

(Agenda item 7)

This report provided members with an update around the work of the Child Abuse Investigation Command (CAIC) highlighting issues arising in respect of Projects Violet and Indigo, Operations Safetynet and Paladin and highlighting changes for London Child Protection Committee (LCPC). It also detailed new work with the Child Exploitation and Online Project (CEOP) (part of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA)) and outlined some challenges faced through the implementation of 'Every Child Matters'. The Chair commented that it was a useful report showing the wide area CAIC covered and highlighting the anxieties about future funding.

In answer to questions about convictions resulting from child rape allegations, members were informed that some allegations were over 30 years old, suspects were abroad and forensic evidence sometimes lacking. These factors made it difficult to bring about prosecutions, however the CAIC continued investigation wherever possible.

With regard to funding from Operation Paladin, it was hoped to receive money from Operation Maxim (Illegal Human Trafficking Investigation Team) and the SOCA. Members were informed that in the previous week 200 children had been interviewed from all over the world.

It was also noted some of the CAICs activity could be done on boroughs with the assistance of CDRPs. The Commander, CAIC, offered to provide more figures on numbers of cases dealt with on borough in a briefing note.

Members queried the comment in the report that the MPS hade no confirmed reports of acts of female genital mutilation taking place within London or the UK. They were informed that they might happen, but no evidence had been found. The CAICs emphasis was on highlighting the problem and seeking to prevent children being taken abroad to be mutilated.

The Chair stated that the MPA needed to continue to campaign for more resources for funding for the CAIC. He also noted that Det Ch Superintendent Peter Spindler, SCD5, was moving to a new post and thanked him for his contribution.

Resolved - That the report be noted.

(Note – the last sentence of paragraph 7 of the report should have read:
“Current performance year to date:

• Objective 1: Overall Sanctioned Detection Rate.
  • Target 20%
  • Performance to date is 22%
  • 2005-6 19% (not 17% as shown)
  • 2004-5 14% (not 12% as shown)
• Objective 2: Rape Sanctioned Detection Rate
  • Target 35%
  • Performance to date 38%
  • 2005-6 35% (not 17% as shown)
  • 2004-5 25% (not 13% as shown)”)

39. Every Child Matters

(Agenda item 8)

The Committee received a report outlining the duties laid upon police authorities by the Children Act 2004 and recent APA national guidance, which had been produced to assist police authorities to meet legislative requirements by 2008 set out in Every Child Matters. The APA guidance had been developed in close collaboration with the Chair of this committee, ACPO and MPA officers during sessions at the Children and Youth Issues Group.

The Chair noted that a small group would be required to get the timetabling in place concerning reporting and having a holistic policy for young people. It was noted some of the work took place already in boroughs and that this needed to be monitored. It was agreed that the Chair and the Corporate Information Officer would work together to produce a timetable. The recommendations were agreed and a further report requested in May.

Resolved – That

1. the template for the oversight of Police Force Policy be considered;
2. a cross business approach to the implementation of Every Child Matters overseen by the Chair of this committee, in close collaboration with the Equal Opportunities and Diversity Board, be agreed;
3. a further report be received in May

40. Specialist Crime Directorate management information

(Agenda item 9)

This report provided members with a summary of the Specialist Crime Directorate’s performance against their key objectives from April to November 2006. Since the report had been written, 20 officers had been drafted in to increase the speed of homicide detections. The Chair noted that weekly meetings of the Disruption Panel that validated criminal networks would improve performance in relation to this target.

Members asked about the cost of asset recovery, noting the press had said it cost £3 to recover £5. The Commander, SCD, stated that if £10 million was recovered, half went to the Government. The remaining £5 million would be shared between the courts, Crown Prosecution Service, the police and other agencies as appropriate. The MPS could therefore only receive 10% of any assets received. The Government was at present discussing an incentivisation scheme, but it was the Commander’s priority to ensure the police continued to receive the same amount of money. She added that it could take two to three years to receive any assets, and that asset recovery was sometime small when large sums had been expected or visa versa. So far this year the MPS had invested £5 million in asset recovery and would do the same next year. The Commander, SCD added that asset recovery was not just about making money for the MPS, but was also a tool in disrupting crime and giving the message that crime did not pay. Her long term aim was to see some of the assets returned to the communities that had been harmed by crime.

Resolved – that the report be noted.

41. Central Operations Directorate management information

(Agenda item 10)

(This report was received after item 5). This report summarised Central Operations (CO) performance against identified targets from April to October 2006 and included commentary and examples of operational success. In also included information on developments in the CO target setting and performance management regime. A focus on CO19 Specialist Firearms OCU performance development issues had also been provided as requested by members. The Chair noted that this regular report was much improved although there was still a way to go and it could be shorter. He also felt it was useful in drawing members attention to performance in smaller parts of the MPS.

Questions were asked about the business case for the proposed new west London base. Members were informed that an internal business case had been prepared but yet no site had been identified.

The target for response to emergency calls (Metcall boroughs only) was for 80% to arrive within 12 minutes. It was noted that only 66% arrived within target and performance had declined over the last quarter. The Assistant Commissioner, CO, undertook to look at this further and provide a briefing note.

It was noted that 87,252 Notices of Intended Prosecution (NIPs) issued in support of the London Safety Camera Safety Partnership were 21% down on same period last year. The Chair asked for further explanation in a briefing note.

Resolved - That

1. the current operational performance within Central Operations; and
2. and the development of the Central Operations Performance Framework (Appendix 2) be noted.

(Note: The MPS has now identified that the figures contained in the report concerning NIPs was incorrect. Central Operations have produced 220,456 NIPs between 1 April to 31 October 2006, 2% less than the same period in 2005. In the light of this information the Chair agreed that a briefing paper was not necessary.)

42. Police performance assessment framework (PPAF) and Baseline Assessment 2005/6

(Agenda item 11)

A report was received outlining how the MPS was responding to the areas for improvement identified in the PPAF and Baseline Assessment 2005-06, particularly those areas that have been identified as ‘fair’. It also included an update on progress being made to improve PNC performance. Details of progress against the timetable were also included.

It was noted that appendix 2 was incorrect and that an updated action plan to improve PNC performance in the MPS should have been attached. It was reported that PNC performance had been seen by the HMIC as a key area of vulnerability in the MPS. The MPS’s Management Board had considered the action plan yesterday and it was reported that performance would get worse before the action plan was fully implemented. The Chair stated that progress of the baseline improvement plan needed to be carefully monitored by the MPA until the MPS were able to improve their performance. The MPA’s Head of Scrutiny and Review would highlight particular areas to be reported upon.

Resolved – That report be noted.

43. Best value review of managing demand

(Agenda item 12)

A report was received updating members on the Demand Management Best Value Review (DMBVR) implementation plan, detailing the progress that had been made and the ongoing work still required to complete the recommendations. The report further suggested that, given the progress in dealing with almost all of the seventeen recommendations to date, that an alternative reporting process be used for the remainder.

The Chief Superintendent, Modernising Operations, reported on developments in regard to front counters and station reception duties and sought guidance as to where such matters should be reported in the future. The Chair stated that it would be to this or the Coordination and Policing Committee and he would let the Chief Superintendent know. Members asked if there would be more staff doing front counter duties in future, and was told there would. It was suggested that this point should be marketed carefully to emphasise the enhanced service that would be provided and be picked up in the first review of progress received by the full Authority.

It was noted that the report included nothing on the double crewing of vehicles and a briefing paper was requested on this subject.

Resolved – That

1. the completion of recommendations 10, 15 & 16 be agreed;
2. the closure of the DMBVR be agreed; and
3. a briefing paper be received on double crewing.

44. Planning and targets update

(Agenda item 13)

The business plan submission to the Mayor and GLA was agreed by the MPS’s Management Board and the full Authority in November 2006. The business plan was now in the process of being refocused to form the Annual Policing Plan, suitable for the public and other stakeholders. A report was received outlining the progress on the development of the 2007/08 Annual Policing Plan, including an update on the development of the high level objectives, measures and targets that underpinned the operational corporate priorities for 2007/2008.

Members agreed that the MPS should not give up targets setting around challenging wards and counter terrorism, albeit they were challenging area around which to set targets.

Resolved – That

1. the progress on the development of the Annual Policing Plan be noted; and
2. feedback be provided on the proposed high-level objectives and developing measures and targets contained within this report.

45. Exclusion of press and public

(Agenda item 14)

A resolution was put to exclude the press and public from the meeting during the remaining agenda item it would be likely to disclose exempt information as described in Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

Resolved – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the remaining agenda items.

46. Security Vetting Service Improvement Review – progress against the improvement plan

(Agenda item 15)

Members received a report updating them on the Security Clearance Process Implementation Plan agreed by the Committee in May 2005, and current vetting performance.

The Committee congratulated the Assistant Commissioner upon his promotion to that rank. He apologised for the failure to provide the report at an it last meeting and stated that difficulties had been caused by the complex arrangements involved, the setting up of the Management Information Bureau and the retirement of his predecessor, AC Brown. The Assistant Commissioner praised the report author for his work, and noted that he was retiring shortly.

He informed members that the MPS’s Management Board did not want to see recommendations 1.5 and 1.6 take place due to the security issues involved, although some of the administration functions would be amalgamated. The Committee suggested that the recommendations should be looked at again in two year’s time, and were informed that the situation probably would change because of changes within the Cabinet Office.

With regard to the timeliness of security clearances, members suggested that job applicants be reminded that security clearance could take time during the clearance process.

Members were informed that having different levels of security clearance could create problems in the future, as it would restrict promotion and career development. Further legal advice was required on the subject.

The Chair stated that he was still concerned by the number or red and amber recommendations in the report, and that MPA staff should meet with the relevant MPS staff before the next report was written in six months time.

Resolved – That

1. progress on the implementation of the recommendations of the Service Improvement Review of vetting be noted;
2. current vetting performance be noted; and
3. MPA and MPS staff meet before the next report was written in six months time

The meeting finished at 12.50 pm.

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