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 12 July 2007 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Richard Sumray (Chair)
• Karim Murji (Deputy Chair)
• Reshard Auladin
•  Faith Boardman

MPA officers

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

MPS officers

• Simon Bray (Commander, Central Communication Command)
• George Clarke ((Chief Superintendent, Criminal Justice)
•  Cressida Dick (DAC, Specialist Operations)
•  Rose Fitzpatrick (DAC, Territorial Policing)
•  Simon Foy (Commander, Central Communications Command)
•  Alf Hitchcock (DAC, Operational Services)
•  Alistair Jeffrey (Det Ch Superintendent, SCD5)
•  Sharon Kerr (T/Commander, Specialist Crime Directorate)
•  Graham Morris (Commander, Operational Information Services)
•  Ann Simpson (Det Inspector, Violent Crime Directorate)
•  Mark Thomson (Director of Business Support, Specialist Crime Directorate)
•  Sue Wilkinson (Commander, Specialist Crime Directorate)

1. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies were received from Richard Barnes (member). The Chair noted that since the agenda had been despatched Faith Boardman had been appointed a member of the committee.

2. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations of interest were received.

3. MINUTES OF THE PLANNING, PERFORMANCE AND REVIEW COMMITTEE: 17 MAY 2007

(Agenda item 3)

RESOLVED - That the minutes of the meetings held on 17 May 2007 (part 1) be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

4. CORPORATE PERFORMANCE REPORT: FINANCIAL YEAR TO DATE: APRIL - MAY 2007

(Agenda item 4)

A report was received providing an overview of MPS performance for the financial year to date 2007/08 (covering the period April – May). It included an overview of performance with respect to the critical 12 high level indicators and information on performance with respect to other indicators and targets. Members were informed that some of the data was not current, and that the Performance Directorate was trying to reduce this time lag.

The Chair asked about the rate of convictions as a proportion of sanction detectuions. He was informed that convictions remained stable but offences taken into consideration (TICs) had reduced and that this was a challenging area. Members were told that the target for personal robbery was being met but the targets for burglary and robbery of business premises were not. Members noted that the satisfaction rate of public who had not come into contact with the police was higher than for those who had and asked if the MPS had an improvement plan. The DAC, Operational Services, the MPS lead on citizen focus, replied that the MPS led in crime victim satisfaction when compared with comparable forces. However, he agreed that more could be done in relation to enquiry desks, telephony, visibility and access. He added that satisfaction was greater for victims of offences that led to conviction, as more effort was made to keep in touch with them.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted

5. SPECIALIST CRIME DIRECTORATE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION

(Agenda item 5)

Members received a report providing a summary of the Specialist Crime Directorate’s (SCD) performance against their key objectives from 1 April to 31 May 2007.

The Committee asked who sat on the Criminal Network Panel and how many claims that a criminal network had been disrupted the Panel turned down. They were informed that a member of the Performance Directorate chaired a panel made up of SCD officers unconnected with the operation being considered. There was a 10-20% rejection rate, although some claims were later resubmitted with better evidence. The Chair requested that more information on the Panel be included in the next report on SCD management information. It was noted that the definition of disruption of criminal networks had been broadened to include gangs.

Members noted that the report (paragraph 4) stated that SCD had investigated 27% of the 626 gun enabled crimes in London and asked on what criteria SCD selected the ones it would investigate. They were informed that SCD investigated Trident and Trafalgar offences crime and gun enabled crime in commercial premises (i.e. shops and garages). In answer to questions, members were informed that gun enabled crime was increasing due to the availability of BB guns and replica firearms. Gun enabled crime figures also included the use of CS spray and imitation guns where the victim perceived them to be guns. The Chair felt this information should be conveyed to the public. He requested that the next performance report from Territorial Policing contain information on Operation Curb.

Members noted the various activities of SCD and asked about succession planning. They were informed that on promotion SCD’s constables were required to return to borough in order that their expertise be spread more widely. They also noted that SCD worked with other agencies such as the Boarder and Immigration Agency and HM Revenue and Customs. A report was requested at a future date on the strengths and weaknesses of these relationships.

RESOLVED – That

1. the report be noted;

2. more information be on disruption of criminal networks panels be included in the next SCD management information report;

3. the next performance report from Territorial Policing contain information on Operation Curb; and

4. a report on the strengths and weaknesses of relationships with outside agencies be received at a future date.

6. SPECIALIST OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION

(Agenda item 6)

A report was provided giving a summary of Specialist Operations (SO) Command performance against its objectives from February to March 2007 and April to May 2007.

Although recognising the improvement in SO’s management information, the Chair stated that there was still work to be done to make the report useful. This, which was being progressed by the MPA’s Head of Performance and Review and SO but he would also discuss this issue at a meeting he would arrange.

RESOLVED – That report be noted.

7. CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND

(Agenda item 7)

This report provided an update on the work of the Child Abuse Investigation Command (CAIC) highlighting issues arising in respect of Project Violet, Project Indigo, the London Paladin Team and highlighting changes for the London Safeguarding Children’s Board. It also outlined work with the Child Exploitation On Line Protection Centre and key challenges faced through the implementation of Every Child Matters.

Concerning Project Ocean (paragraphs 27-28), members voiced their concern that supplementary schools, often of a religious nature, were uncontrolled, and could be used for radicalisation of their pupils and child abuse. It was suggested that London‘s Safeguarding Children’s Board could be asked to scope the issues for Government ministers.

With relation to the problems raised in paragraph 13-19 child death reviews and the passing of information required by Every Child Matters between agencies, the Chair reported that he was raising the issue with the Chief Executive for London Councils. He also requested that the next report from CAIC include information on its approach to the opening of St Pancras as an international terminus.

RESOLVED – That

1. the report be noted;

2. London‘s Safeguarding Children’s Board be asked to scope concerns relating to supplementary schools for Government ministers; and

3. the next report from CAIC include information on its approach to the opening of St Pancras as an international terminus.

8. TELEPHONE RESPONSE RATES - UPDATE REPORT

(Agenda item 8)

The Committee received an update report on response rates in relation to answering emergency and non-emergency calls from the public. It highlighted how response times impacted upon citizen focus and satisfaction rates and the work being done to improve performance in this area. The Chair noted that the report came about because of repeated concerns raised by the Liberal Democrat Party in relation to the MPS’s response to telephone calls.

The Commander, Central Communications Command, stated that C3i was now in the Operational Services Business Group, which included citizen focus. He added that the implementation phase of C3i would cease in September with the integration of the last borough. The Chair suggested that that would be an appropriate time for a report to come to either this Committee or full Authority. He added that the public needed information on what numbers they should be ringing on what occasions. Members noted that the initial business case for C3i had stated that all phone calls would be responded too. That this had not transpired had created disappointment and was a major cause of public complaint. Members requested a short summary on what C3i had achieved. In answer to questions, members were assured that data on call handling was monitored on an hour-by-hour basis and that advice had been sought from commercial call handling firms.

RESOLVED – That

1. the report be noted;

2. a report come to either this Committee or full Authority on C3i at the end of its rollout; and

3. members receive a short briefing paper on the achievements of C3i.

9. 2008-09 BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL PLANNING PROCESS UPDATE (ORAL UPDATE)

(Agenda item 9)

(Item 9 and 10 were received after item 4.) Members were informed that a written report would received at a joint meeting of the Finance and Planning, Performance and Review Committees in September. The Chair reported that he had met with the Director, Strategic Management and Performance and was happy with the MPS current thinking concerning aligning planning to the business groups.

RESOLVED – That the oral report be received.

10. NATIONAL CRIME RECORDING STANDARD UPDATE

(Agenda item 10)

The Home Office yearly crime data audit had commenced in 2002 with the Audit Commission as lead auditor. The fourth and final audit under the plan had now been completed. Over the four years, MPS performance for compliance in crime recording had moved from ‘poor’ to ‘good’ and was now considered ‘fair’, with its data considered ‘satisfactory’ and ‘fit for purpose’. This report provided information about the action plan that had been created in response to the recommendations and the improvements that had been made since the last update. Members noted that new counting rules had reduced the number of non-sanctioned detections from 60,000 to less than 25 (paragraph 4).

The Chair stated that the MPA should continue to scrutinise national crime recording standards (NCRS) to ensure that the MPS improved its performance. He requested reports to this Committee at six monthly intervals and as lead member for NCRS he would monitor performance quarterly. He noted that the action plan at appendix 3 stated that the MPA should undertake a proactive role in the oversight of NCRS in boroughs. He felt this would be better achieved by a centralised approach. Members however requested that link members be informed of the performance of their individual boroughs.

The report stated that the MPS Central Communication Command (CCC) had the ability, in extreme circumstances, to suspend compliance with NCRS. Members asked who had the authority to do this. The Commander, Central Communication Command, stated that the authority, exercised only rarely, was given by his staff on his behalf.

Members noted (paragraph 6) that now only financial institutions, and not their customers, could report fraud against financial institutions. They were informed that the City of London Police was leading this initiative and that it was too early to evaluate its impact.

RESOLVED – That

1. the report be noted; and

2. the Committee receive reports on NCRS at six monthly intervals; and

3, the Chair, as lead member for NCRS, would monitor performance quarterly.

4. oversight of NCRS in boroughs to be achieved by a centralised approach, but link members to be informed of the performance of their individual boroughs.

11. MISSING PERSONS

(Agenda item 11)

The Committee received a report providing it with an overview of missing persons reported to the MPS and the procedures the MPS had in place to investigate these reports. It also provided a summary of the issues specifically relating to young missing persons.

Members were particularly struck by the variation in borough figures in appendix 2 and asked if was a recording issues. They were informed that some variation was caused by the number of children’s homes in a borough, but also by the failure to complete Merlin reports. It was suggested that the MPS should endeavour to obtain a similar statistical approach across all boroughs. It was also noted that the figures did not include the number of provincial young people who were reported as having run away to London. The Committee supported the training for officers who encountered missing persons. The Chair requested that members receive a briefing paper on the problems that would be caused by the loss of Merlin, highlighted in paragraph 7.

RESOLVED – That

1. the report be noted; and

2. a briefing paper be received on the problems that would be caused by the loss of Merlin, highlighted in paragraph 7.

12. CRIMINAL JUSTICE UPDATE

(Agenda item 12)

A report was received 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.

RESOLVED – That the report was noted.

13. WORK PLAN 2007/08

(Agenda item 13)

Members received a draft work plan for Planning Performance and Review Committee for 2007- 08. It was noted that the plan did not include borough inspection reports, as there was no longer a formal programme, however the Interim Assistant Chief Executive would liaise with the DAC, Territorial Policing, on how inspections could be reported to the Committee. Members request that a report be received on the strengths and weaknesses of relationships with outside agencies be received (agenda item 5) would also be included.

RESOLVED – That the work plan for 2007-08 be endorsed.

14. EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

(Agenda item 14)

A resolution was put to exclude the press and public from the meeting during remaining items on the agenda as it was likely to disclose exempt information as described in Schedule 12(a) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

RESOLVED - That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during discussion of the remaining items on the agenda.

15. SECURITY VETTING SERVICE IMPROVEMENT REVIEW PROGRESS AGAINST THE IMPROVEMENT PLAN

(Agenda item 15)

This report provided an update on the implementation plan agreed by the Planning Performance and Review Committee in May 2005. It included a progress report of implementation of the service improvement review (SIR) of security vetting, including evidence of any outcomes/service improvements and of how slippage in the implementation plan was being addressed and identified and any financial or resource implications of the current work. It was noted that a number of recommendations remained to be completed. It was requested that a time line for completion in relation to recommendations 1.5 and 1.6 and a progress report on recommendation 2 in the report be included in the report to be received in January.

RESOLVED – That

1. the progress on the implementation of the recommendations of the SIR of Vetting be noted;

2. current vetting performance be noted; and

3. the next report, to be received in January, contain a time line for completion of recommendations 1.5 and 1.6 and a progress report on recommendation 2.

The meeting finished at 12.40 pm
 

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback