Minutes

Minutes of the Planning, Performance & Review Committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 15 March 2007 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

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

MPA officers

• Siobhan Coldwell (Interim Assistant Chief Executive)
• Liz Orsborn (Management Accountant)
• Jane Owen (Head of Performance and Review)
• Ruth Hastings Iqball (Committee Officer)

MPS officers

• Suzanna Becks (Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Specialist Operations)
• Stephen Bloomfield (Chief Superintendent, Safer Neighbourhoods)
• Simon Bray (Commander, Performance Directorate)
• Rose Fitzpatrick (Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Territorial Policing)
• Allan Gibson (Commander, Specialist Crime Directorate)
• Neil Haynes (Superintendent, Specialist Operations)
• Raymond Marshall (Improvement Managing, Specialist Crime Directorate)
• David Way (Detective Superintendent, TP Emerald)
• Mark Yexley
• Det Chief Inspector, Sapphire

50. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Tony Arbour.

51. Declarations of interests

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations of interest were received.

52. Minutes of the Planning, Performance and Review Committee: 16 January 2007 and 14 February 2007 (special meeting)

(Agenda item 3)

Resolved - That

1. the minutes of the meetings held on 6 January 2007 and 14 February 2007 (special meeting) be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
2. that the recommendations of the inquorate meeting on 14 February 2007 be ratified.

53. Rape update

(Agenda item 4)

This report provided members with a summary of MPS performance on rape investigations in London in the period April 2006 to December 2006. It also included an update on the progress on the MPS Rape Review of 2005 and HMIC/HMCPSI Thematic Review ’Without Consent‘ and developments in this area. Members were informed that a number of reviews concerning the detection and prosecution of rape were taking place. The MPS planned to complete one action plan in response to them all.

Members asked how the existence of rape Havens were being made known to police officers and staff, GPs, health workers and victims. They were informed that a media group had been set up to look at external and internal communication. An example of the group’s activity was a recent article in the Job (the MPS’s internal magazine).

Members asked if the Havens were full. They were informed that they were not working to full capacity and as yet there was no need for a fourth Haven. Members also asked why there was an increase in domestic rape. It was suggested that better investigation, case tracking and central oversight had led to more accusations of rape.

The Chair wondered if the decline in reported rape was due to recent television programmes on the subject. He added that the government needed to educate future jurors that female intoxication should not be a mitigating factor in a rape trial. He praised the MPS initiative in training CPS Direct lawyers and noted that the Havens meant London’s rape victims were treated better than anywhere in the country.

Resolved – That the report be received.

54. External Inspection Programme

(Agenda item 5)

A report was received outlining the external inspection programme for 2007 and the implications for the MPS. The Chair stressed that the MPS need to be prepared for inspections and not lose track of base line assessments.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

55. The 2008/09 businesses and financial planning process

(Agenda item 6)

The Committee received a report outlining the financial challenges faced by the MPS in the medium term and the benefits of an improved business planning process in meeting these, it also proposed key changes to the business planning process for 2008/09.

The Chair stated that the Committee and Treasurer were concerned about the timescales proposed in Appendix 3. He stated that they needed to be brought forward to avoid the difficulties experienced this year around borough stretch targets, and to tie in with the budget scrutiny. He requested that a further report be brought to the Coordination and Policing Committee in April.

Resolved – That

1. the aims proposed regarding the business and financial planning process (Appendix 1) be agreed;
2. the activities required to ensure the MPS focused on delivery of the strategic priorities, core business and value for money (paragraph 4) be supported; and
3. a revised timetable for the 2008/09 business planning process (Appendix 3) brought to the Coordination and Policing Committee in April.

56. Safer neighbourhoods – focus item

(Agenda item 7)

This report provided an overview of some key aspects of the MPS Safer Neighbourhoods programme. It included an account of the Safer Neighbourhoods Performance Framework, consideration of the impact of Safer Neighbourhoods on communities and a discussion of the role of Safer Neighbourhoods teams in most challenging wards.

The Chair noted that the MPS’s work in developing a performance framework around the Safer Neighbourhood programme was cutting edge. However, members felt the performance framework report was missing quality of life indicators, and asked how it would capture problem solving (such as a council and Safer Neighbourhood Team working together to solve parking issues around a place of worship). Members noted that the number of Public Attitude Surveys would be increasing from 8,000 to 20,000 and asked how this figure had been arrived at. They also asked if young people would be interviewed. They were informed that this figure had a statistical basis, the larger number providing increased borough level data. Only people over 15 would be interviewed, as parental permission was needed to interview under 15s.

Members were informed that the Safer Neighbourhood Panels top concerns were youth crime, theft from motor vehicles, anti-social behaviour, burglary and drug dealing and usage. Three of these concerns corresponded with Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets.

In relation to sharing good practice, members were informed of the second London Problem Solving Awards held recently. Officers and PCSOs had access to an internal Safer Neighbourhood website, quarterly forums were held for all Safer Neighbourhood team sergeants and the Safer Neighbourhood Unit was working with the MPS’s Leadership Academy to produce a database of successful initiatives.

It was agreed that a report on the Safer Neighbourhood Programme would be received biannually, the next report being received in October.

Resolved – That

1. the report be noted; and
2. reports on the Safer Neighbourhood Programme be received biannually, the next report being received in October.

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

(Agenda item 8)

This report provided the Committee with an overview of MPS performance for the period April 2006 to January 2007. It included an overview of performance with respect to the critical 13 high level indicators and further information on performance in relation to other indicators and targets. Members were informed that the figure quoted for domestic violence was incorrect.

There was a discussion about the difficulty of targeting and prioritising gun-enabled crime. The MPS reported that they are undertaking some research and analysis to identify what works. It was also noted that the boroughs do not have sanction detection targets. The Chair agreed that a further discussion to understand the detail may be required in the future.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

58. Specialist Crime Directorate management information

(Agenda item 9)

The Committee received a report providing a summary of the Specialist Crime Directorate’s performance against their key objectives from 1 April 2006 to 31 January 2007.

Members were informed that shootings by and of increasingly young people was of increasing concern to the Directorate. In response to an increasing number of cash in transit robberies the Directorate had set up Operation Vanguard. This had met with some success; one gang that had committed 45 offences, and another 14 offences, had been arrested.

The Chair requested that the MPS be consistent in counting homicides, as some reports counted those murdered in Tavistock Square and other reports did not. He also requested that the Directorate’s next report include an explanation as to differences in the sanctioned detection rates for child abuse (Hounslow had a rate of 41% whilst Lambeth had 9.5%).

Resolved – That

1. the report be noted; and
2. the next report include an explanation as to difference between sanctioned detection rates for child abuse.

59. Specialist Operations management information

(Agenda item 10)

A report was received providing a summary of Specialist Operations Command performance against its objectives from April 2006 to January 2007. The Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Specialist Operations, provided a commentary on the report.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

60. Criminal Justice update

(Agenda item 11)

This report provided members with an update on the work being carried out by Operation Emerald with the ultimate aim of bringing more offences to justice. The Chair welcomed the progress made by this Team over the last few years.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

The meeting finished at 15.55 pm.

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