External inspection programme

Report: 5
Date: 15 March 2007
By: Director Strategy, Modernisation and Performance on behalf of the Commissioner

Summary

This report outlines the external inspection programme for 2007 and the implications for the MPS.

A. Recommendation

That members note the report.

B. Supporting information

1. All external inspection activity is monitored by the MPS Inspection Liaison and Analysis Unit (ILAU). This includes activity by HMIC, the Audit Commission and other external inspection agencies. To facilitate the co-ordination of all inspection activity within the MPS, the ILAU produces a monthly progress report. This details forthcoming inspection visits and the progress on implementation of all recommendations. It is circulated to all internal inspection units and key external agencies.

2. In addition, the ILAU meets with key external inspection partners on a quarterly basis. This is to prevent duplication, overlap and unnecessary burden of inspection activity to the MPS. It also provides a forum for sharing good practice and learning.

HMIC Baseline Assessment programme 2007/09

3. The next HMIC Baseline Assessment programme will commence in March 2007 and take place over a two-year period. It will focus on eight priority protective services specifically;

• Managing Critical incidents (including firearms);
• Major Crime;
• Tackling Serious and Organised Criminality;
• Civil Contingency Planning;
• Public Order;
• Strategic Roads Policing;
• Protecting Vulnerable People; and
• Professional Standards.

4. In addition, there will also be several assessments during this two-year period. These will cover corporate governance issues, such as Leadership and Diversity; a strategic examination of both the resource context in which forces operate and their proposals to meet priority objectives and public expectations; and an inspection of forces progress towards the April 2008 target for full implementation in respect of Neighbourhood Policing.

5. The proposed inspection timetable is as follows:

6. Other elements of the process will include:

• No self-assessment template to be completed;
• The HMIC inspection team will review updates from forces’ 2005/06 action plan, as part of their inspection process;
• The HMIC inspection team will consider corporacy and consistency across those nominated frameworks. This will involve force engagement at ACPO, strategic and local levels.

7. Work is already being undertaken in respect of the first three frameworks to be inspected - Neighbourhood Policing, Protecting Vulnerable Persons and Performance Management. This involves collation of documentation by business groups and preparation for interviews by the HMIC inspection team, which are scheduled to take place between 2 and 20 April 2007.

8. As reported previously, the ILAU is monitoring progress of the outstanding areas for improvement (AFIs) identified in the 2005/06 Baseline action plan. Particular focus is being placed on further updates coinciding with the HMIC inspection programme. This is to ensure that timely responses are provided, in advance of the HMIC visits. Strategic guidance and support to those units participating in both the HMIC Baseline Assessment and Going Local 3 inspection processes is also being provided by the ILAU, together with acting as a point of contact for HMIC.

9. In addition, from analysis of the action plan, the MPS Inspectorate is undertaking a programme of strategic inspections on the potential areas for performance improvement.

10. Progress on both the 2007/09 Baseline Assessment process and the 2005/06 action plan are also regularly monitored at the corporate performance management meetings and the monthly MPS Performance Board.

C. Race and equality impact

Any diversity and equality implications will form part of the respective external agency inspection reports. In addition, race and equality matters will be addressed through alignment of the corporate inspection programme to any corporate inspection activity to the HMIC Baseline Assessment frameworks.

D. Financial implications

Any financial implications will form part of the respective external agency inspection reports. In addition, financial matters will be addressed through alignment of any corporate inspection activity to the HMIC Baseline Assessment frameworks.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Julie Buckingham, MPS Inspectorate and Inspection Liaison and Analysis Unit, MPS

For more information contact:

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

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