Rape update

Report: 4
Date: 15 March 2007
By: AC Territorial Policing on behalf of the Commissioner

Summary

This report provides members with a summary of the MPS performance on rape investigations in London during the current year, April 2006 to December 2006. It also includes an update on the progress on the MPS Rape Review of 2005 and HMIC/HMCPSI Thematic Review “Without Consent” and developments in this area.

A. Recommendation

That the report be received.

B. Supporting information

1. The majority of the recommendations of the MPS Rape Review of 2005 have been implemented.

2. The areas that require further development are the training of investigators, understanding Mental Health issues and measures of victim satisfaction.

3. The training of Sexual Offences Investigators requires development at a National level. The MPS Sapphire Team have working with CENTREX and a National Specially Trained Officer (Equivalent of MPS SOIT) Officer role profile and training programme have been developed. A limited number of advanced interviewing courses have been secured for Sapphire Detectives in 2007. During 2006, the Violent Crime Directorate (VCD) Sapphire Team held three seminars for all Sapphire Investigators and SOIT refresher training. This addressed key training needs, provided by some excellent speakers. Seminars have been arranged for 2007, our first seminar will include a presentation from Dr Vanessa Munro. Dr Munro present on her studies of jury’s attitudes to consent issues.

4. The case tracking process is being used to measure the response to victims with vulnerabilities including Mental Health. The VCD Sapphire Team is working with Haven Clinical Staff on addressing victim vulnerabilities and areas of risk.

5. Victim satisfaction surveys have been developed and are in the process of being piloted. The MPS are also working with the Home Office to develop National performance indicators focussed on victim care and rape investigation. The Havens already have victim satisfaction surveys and these are used in developing the service.

6. The key recommendation of the rape review concerned the central authorisation of No Crime/Crime Related Incidents (CRI) by the VCD Sapphire Team. This process was implemented on 6 November 2006. At the end of 2005/6 reporting year the MPS No Crime/CRI rate for Rape was 33%. The MPS currently has a No Crime/CRI rate of 25%. Any consideration of performance figures should take into account that the reduction of No Crimes will result in a larger percentage of crimes to detect. This will have an adverse effect on detection rates compared to previous years.

Summary of performance on rape

7. There were 1834 offences classified as rape between April and December 2006. This is a 0.7% increase in the number of rape offences recorded during the same period for the previous year. The most notable increases have been Lewisham (61.7%, 37 offences), Redbridge (38.9%, 14 offences) and Islington (30.4%, 17 offences).

8. Seventeen boroughs have seen a decrease in the number of offences reported during this eight-month period in comparison with the respective period of 2005. The most significant decreases were Haringey (-32.1%, 26 offences), Newham (-25%, 24 offences) and Ealing (-23.9%, 17 offences).

9. The corporate sanctioned detection target for rape is 32%. The sanctioned detection rate for this period was 29.7% (Up from 25.7% in August 2006 MPS update). In 2005, the sanctioned detection target rate achieved in the same period was 30.2%.

10. In the period April and December 2006, Domestic Rape accounted for 19.4% of all rape offences (356 out of 1834). This percentage was determined based on the offences where the “relationship” was recorded on the crime report (only 394 of the rape offences actually showed a relationship) and indicated an intimate relationship e.g. boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife (including ex-partners).

11. Overall, there has been a 16.6% increase (313 to 356) in the number of domestic rapes recorded during the first eight months of this financial year in comparison to the same eight months of 2005.

12. Recorded rapes in London could not be compared to other police areas using iQuanta data. iQuanta data is only records data for all sexual offences, it does not separate rape cases. The MPS is one of the few police services in England and Wales to record rape as a priority and have a sanctioned detection rate target set in the policing plan.

MPS Response to “Without Consent” A report on the joint review of investigation and prosecution of rape offences. HMIC / HMCPSI 2007

13. The joint HMIC/HMCPSI review took place during 2006. Islington and Westminster Boroughs, The Havens and the VCD Sapphire Team facilitated the MPS response. Case files were produced and MPS staff at all levels were interviewed. Representatives of the MPS Sapphire Independent Advisory Group and VCD Sapphire were members of the Inspectorate reference group.

14. The report makes a number of recommendations for the police service and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). A number of these recommendations reflect MPS Sapphire policy. The work of the MPS and The Havens is highlighted as “Good Practice” throughout the report.

15. The key HMIC recommendation on the audit of No Crimes is now part of the VCD Sapphire business, as a result of the MPS Rape Review 2005. The MPS management and support structure, previously highlighted in the MPA scrutiny, is highlighted as good practice and is recommended for all police forces.

16. The second recommendation deals with the deployment and management of SOITs. The VCD Sapphire Team have implemented SOIT refresher training and are currently working with TP Human Resources and The Crime Academy to ensure that SOIT courses are reviewed and targeted to meet demand.

17. Recommendation three deals with instructions for first response officers. These are subject to review with under the Sapphire Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

18. Recommendation five deals with review processes for rape investigation. The investigation review process is key to the current MPS Sapphire SOPs and is monitored through case tracking. This is an area where MPS processes are mentioned as good practice.

19. The HMIC report also highlights that the MPS are the only police service in the sample to provide a 24-hour forensic response for rape investigations.

20. The HMIC/HMIC review is published at a time when a number of reports and studies on rape due for release. These include the Home Office National Rape Action Plan, Home Office reports on attrition and further MPS work on attrition based on the MPS Rape Review of 2005.

21. In addition to these reports, the London Criminal Justice Board (LCJB) is addressing the issue of rape conviction rates. The MPS played a key role in the LCJB working group and are aware of the recommendations for each agency.

22. The MPS would recommend that all of these reports be considered and a formal plan to deal with recommendations is implemented. Progress on the recommendations made will be reported to the MPA.

23. In the short term, the MPS have already started quarterly meetings with CPS Rape Coordinators to improve our performance. The VCD Sapphire Team and London CPS/CPS Direct are working together in training for investigators and prosecutors.

Emerging strategic issues

Conviction rates on rape

24. The key strategic is the low level of convictions for offences of rape. This has received a great deal of media attention. Whilst the MPS has an important part to play in improving detection rates and providing the best available evidence for prosecutors, this is a much wider issue. The MPS have worked with the ACPO and the Home Office to develop research and strategy. The MPS Sapphire Teams and Child Abuse Investigation Command were also involved in the London Criminal Justice Board’s work focussing on conviction rates. This report mentions some of the work being undertaken by the MPS in partnership with the CPS to improve investigations and attrition rates.

No crime rates

25. As previously mentioned the level of No Crimes is a strategic issue for the police service, identified by HMIC and MPS Rape Review 2005. The MPS are taking positive steps to reduce the No Crime Level. This is evidenced in rape performance statistics. In 2004/5 the MPS No Crime Level for rape was 41% with a sanctioned detection rate of 25%. At the end of January 2006 the No Crime level was 25% with a sanctioned detection rate of 30%.

Progress of Sapphire

Violent Crime Directorate (VCD)

26. The new VCD Intelligence Unit now provide daily intelligence briefings on high-risk areas of crime. These include rape and serious sexual offences. The briefing is used to inform a VCD daily management meeting chaired by a DCI. This meeting offers coordinated support to Boroughs in the areas that would have previously been dealt with in isolation. These include investigations covering Sapphire, Community Safety Unit Service Delivery dealing with Domestic Violence and Hate Crime, Management of Offenders and Missing Persons.

Review of Standard Operating Procedures

27. The Standard Operating Procedures for the Investigation of Rape and Serious Sexual Assault (SOPs) are due for review in December 2007. The VCD Sapphire Team has already started this process and is in consultation and drafting stage. The new SOPs will take into account recommendations from reports and studies published over the past two years. It will also take into account 2005 ACPO guidance on Investigating Rape and Serious Sexual Offences.

Haven media campaign

28. In November 2006, the MPS Directorate of Public Affairs (DPA) led a media campaign with the aim of increasing awareness of The Havens Service and reassuring the public that the MPS deals with rape as a priority. This resulted in a two weeks of radio advertising on Heart and Magic FM, adverts in G3 and Attitude magazines, a supply of postcards and posters and the establishment of a Havens “Text” Service.

29. The campaign was independently evaluated. In December 2006 a targeted online survey and fieldwork evaluation was carried out with a sample of 500 respondents the following points were established:

• The overall awareness of the radio campaign is 18%, which rises to 28% amongst Magic and Heart listeners
• The key objective to reassure victims to come forward to report a sexual offence has been picked up on - 41% felt this is what the radio advert was communicating
• The press advert tended to evoke stronger reactions than the radio ad creatively speaking
• Perceptions of the MPS were affected positively by the campaign

30. During the two-week campaign, there were 127 texts to the Haven Service. Monthly visitors on the Haven’s website rose from 300 to 800. An advertorial was placed on the FemaleFirst website this resulted 646 hits on the Sapphire page.

The Havens young persons workers

31. The Haven’s Strategic Board have now authorised the employment of Young Persons Workers at all three Havens. The staff are healthcare professionals who provide support to Haven clients aged 13 to 18 years. They also work in schools providing classroom sessions dealing with sexual health and attitudes towards sexual violence. The Young Persons workers have also provided training for all MPS Safer Schools officers, raising awareness of The Haven Service.

Sapphire Cold Case Investigation Team

32. The Sapphire Cold Case Investigation Team has continued in their pioneering work. The team has worked in partnership with the SCD4 Directorate of Forensic Services, The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Forensic Science Service (FSS). They apply the latest scientific techniques to cases that have previously been regarded as “undetectable”. Although this process is regarded as being “forensics driven”, the commitment of investigative team to provide a “victim focussed” approach is the key to their success.

33. One notable investigation involves a series of six offences committed between 1989 and 1996. In September 2006, as a result of an investigation by the Cold Case Team, a male was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment after pleading guilty to all of the offences. This case was subject to national news coverage and was the lead story on all TV networks. The successes of the Cold Case team were highlighted in extended news items. The team currently have nine cases awaiting trial.

Abbreviations

CENTREX

Central Police Training and Development Authority

HMIC

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary

HMCPSI

Her Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate

LCJB

London Criminal Justice Board

SOIT

Sexual Offence Investigative Techniques

SOPs

Standard Operating Procedures

TP

Territorial Policing

VCD

Violent Crime Directorate

C. Race and equality impact

The MPS Rape Review of 2005 demonstrates that the crime of rape affects all communities in London. The MPS provides a “victim focussed” approach to rape investigation and strives to meet the individual needs of all. This report mentions the work undertaken to provide specific services for young victims of crime. In addition to this The Haven Whitechapel employ an Asian Development Worker, who spends time in supporting community projects and promoting equal access to The Haven services.

D. Financial implications

1. The Havens Finance Board is currently in the process of finalising the 2006/7 budgets for the Havens Service. The MPA funds the service on a 50/50 basis with the NHS. It is anticipated that the contribution required from the MPA for 2007/8 will be in the region of £2 Million. The Treasurer to the MPA chairs the Haven Finance Board.

2. The Haven Media Campaign was delivered at a cost of £50,000. Posters and postcards have been purchased from VCD Sapphire funds at a cost of £900.

E. Background papers

• “Without Consent” A report on the joint review of the investigation and prosecution of rape offences. HMIC and HMCPSI 2007.

F. Contact details

Report author: Mark Yexley, Detective Chief Inspector, Sapphire, Violent Crime Directorate, MPS.

For more information contact:

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

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