Specialist Operations management information

Report: 10
Date: 15 March 2007
By: Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations on behalf of the Commissioner

Summary

This report gives a summary of Specialist Operations Command performance against its objectives from April 2006 to January 2007.

A. Recommendation

That members note the report.

B. Supporting information

1. This report provides management information on the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Specialist Operations Command. It gives commentary on performance against MPS objectives and on any issues affecting the achievement of targets.

2. Specialist Operations undertook a complete review of its performance indicators resulting in measures for 2006/7 being more outcome focused and of a higher quality. This will be built upon during 2007/8 and will use a ‘cross cutting’ approach to the performance measurement of CT policing.

3. On 2 October 2006, the Counter Terrorism Command (CTC) was launched. An enhanced performance management regime has been incorporated into the design of this new command. This regime will be phased in over the next two years in line with wider implementation plans and as the CTC consolidates.

Summary of performance information 2006/7

4. Please refer to the table at Appendix 1.

Achieving the corporate objective of creating a safer London

Effective implementation of the Counter Terrorism 7 Point Programme

5. Overall this has been achieved, with the targets being reached for both the support given to boroughs in relation to Counter Terrorism and the coverage of Counter Terrorist Intelligence Officers (CTIO) in London Boroughs. Due to the exceptional number of Safer Neighbourhood Team members recruited during the year, the target of 80% for ‘every Safer Neighbourhood Team member will receive a Counter Terrorism briefing by a CTIO within two months of appointment’, has not been achieved.

Through a sustained relationship with vulnerable groups police provide an appropriate response to real or perceived threats.

6. Both the performance measures have been exceeded, Explosive Officers attended Improvised Explosive Device (IED) calls in the MPS within the set time, 100% of the time and suspected or actual terrorist incidents received a rating of ‘appropriate’ for scene management, 98% of the time.

Achieving the corporate objective - to increase advanced identification of threats from, and opportunities of countering terrorism.

Valuable Counter-Terrorism intelligence is identified and acted upon.

7. This measure has been exceeded with 95% percent of calls to the ‘Hotline’ being answered within the set time.

Optimum use of resources in response to identified terrorist threats.

8. Reduce the gap between Budgeted Workforce Target (BWT) and actual strength – ‘By half by 31 March 2007’. It is projected that this will be achieved. The gap is now currently decreasing as the additional posts allocated to the new CT command during the reporting year are now being filled.

Achieving the corporate objective – to enhance the security of key locations and protected persons

Satisfaction with security and protection arrangements for the Royal Household, Parliamentary Estate, Diplomatic Community & Ministers

9. Although there have been no intrusions into the protected secure (Royal) Residence of a principle (red and purple zones) in the last four months, due to one intrusion in August 2006 this performance measure will not be achieved.

10. The measure to respond to Embassy Warning System (EWS) activations to diplomatic, government and vulnerable communities within 6 minutes 90% of the time has been exceeded.

11. There have been no intrusions into the red zone of the Palace of Westminster.

12. The measure for personal attack alarm and perimeter alarm activations on the main Parliamentary Estate are attended within 3 minutes 80% of the time, has been exceeded.

Counter terrorism update

13. From an operational perspective, recent months continue to be extremely busy. A large amount of work also continues in relation to investigations that are progressing through towards trial dates or are already being heard in court.

November 2006

14. On 2 November 2006, officers from the Counter Terrorism Command charged a man with offences under the Terrorism Act 2000. He is charged with the intention of committing acts of terrorism or assisting another to commit such acts and other offences. He currently awaits trial.

December 2006

15. Officers and staff from the Counter Terrorism Command were engaged with the investigation into the death of Alexander Litvinenko.

16. The investigation began on 17 November 2006 when it was reported to police that Mr Litvinenko was in hospital in a serious but stable condition. On 17 November 2006, Mr Litvinenko was transferred to UCH where he subsequently died on 23 November 2006.

17. The investigation identified that the radioactive substance, polonium 210 had been found in his body. An intense investigation then took place to identify venues where he had been and those he may have been in contact with. Throughout the enquiry police worked closely with the Health Protection agency.

18. Part of the enquiry also entailed a number of officers travelling to Russia to undertake their enquiries. All the officers returned to the UK just before Christmas.

19. On 31 January 2007, the police handed the file concerning the findings of the investigation to the Crown Prosecution Service.

20. Officials from Russia have passed a request for mutual legal assistance to the Home Office and an offer has been extended to the Russian Prosecutors office to visit New Scotland Yard to discuss progress.

January 2007

21. On 23 January 2007, two men were arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 in Halifax, West Yorkshire. The men were arrested at approximately 6 am on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. They were brought to a central London police station having been arrested by officers from the MPS Counter Terrorism Command supported by officers from West Yorkshire Police. These men were charged on 29 January 2007 under the Terrorism Act 2000. Both appeared at City of Westminster Magistrates Court on 30 January. One man is charged with thirteen (13) offences under the Terrorism Act, the second man faces two charges under the Terrorism Act.

22. Also in January, the trial commenced of six men accused of the attempted bombings in London on 21 July 2005. The trial continues.

23. Operation Crevice Trial continues at the Old Bailey. This operation targeted individuals based in the UK acquiring the ingredients to manufacture homemade explosives.

C. Race and equality impact

There are no explicit equalities items addressed. The activities that form this report and the data content are arrived at with a regard to delivering Specialist Operations policing services to an equal standard for all Londoners. The performance report fully complies with equal opportunities policies and associated MPA/MPS Diversity issues. In addition, Specialist Operations are in regular contact with key community groups and use this to assist the monitoring of the impact of counter terrorist policing in London.

D. Financial implications

Specialist Operations collects performance data on a regular basis. However, additional effort is expended on the qualitative and quantitative analysis of performance measures included in this report.

Due to the events of July 2005, additional funding has been obtained from the Home Office in relation to Counter Terrorism and Security Protection.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Superintendent Neil Haynes, Specialist Operations Continuous Improvement Unit, MPS

For more information contact:

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

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