Borough performance report

Report: 10
Date: 14 February 2008
By: AC Territorial Policing on behalf of the Commissioner

Summary

This report provides an overview of key performance indicators for MPS boroughs for April – December 2007 compared with April – December 2006. It examines performance against BCS comparator crime and relevant critical performance areas for TP. Longer-term trend data is against April – December 2003. It explains the strong performance of Barnet, Kingston and Merton highlighted by the Home Office last year. It also examines the sanction detection profile across boroughs and outlines the drivers for BOCU SD performance.

A. Recommendation

That Members note the report.

B. Supporting information

British Crime Survey (BCS) Comparator Crime (Chart 1a & 1b)
1. BCS offences across the MPS were down by -8.7%, recording over 35,000 fewer offences for April to December 2007 against April to December 2006. Every month this year recorded the lowest number of BCS offences for that particular month in over four years (since the measure was introduced by the Home Office in April 2003). Each month in FY 07/08 recorded fewer than 43,000 offences.

2. iQuanta for the three months to December 2007 shows the MPS as in line with peers and clearly improving.

3. The MPS has seen a steady reduction in BCS offences since April 2003, with the exception of April to November 2005 when levels evened out for a few months. For April to December 2007 the MPS had achieved a reduction of -20.6% (over 95,000 fewer offences) against the baseline (April to December 2003). It is highly likely that the overall four year PSA (Public Service Agreement) target of -19.4% will be achieved.

4. 29 boroughs are currently recording a reduction for April to December 2007 against April to December 2006, with eight boroughs recording a reduction of over -15% and a further six recording reductions of over -10%. Boroughs with the largest reductions are Havering, down -20.7% (-1,922 offences), Islington down -17.8% (-2,811 offences), Camden down -17.3% (-3,042 offences), and Redbridge down -17.0% (-1,895 offences). Ealing is seeing the third largest volume reduction down by 2,728 offences (-15.4%).

5. Only three boroughs are currently recording an increase, April to December 2007 against April to December 2006. Newham is up 2.7% (455 offences), Westminster is up 0.7%(130 offences) and Greenwich is up 0.4% (52 offences).

6. The main contributor to the increase at Newham is BCS assaults. Further research is ongoing to analyse this trend.

7. Havering’s success in BCS reduction is due to significant reductions in motor vehicle crime, criminal damage and BCS assaults. Havering has made considerable progress in tackling violent crime within its nighttime economy.

Personal Robbery (Chart 2a & 2b)

8. Across the MPS, personal robbery is recording a reduction of -20.1%, (6,459 fewer offences) April to December 2007 against April to December 2006.

9. For total robbery iQuanta, for the three months to December 2007, shows the MPS as worse than peers but clearly improving.

10. Personal robbery has dropped by -8.9% (over 2,500 fewer offences) April to December 2007 against April to December 2003.

11. Reductions are being recorded in 30 boroughs against April to December 2006, including eight with reductions over 30% and a further nine with reductions over 20%. Harrow and Havering are seeing the largest percentage reductions at -46% and -42% respectively.

12. Lewisham and Ealing have seen the largest volume reductions, both recording over 650 fewer offences, although this is against a backdrop of significant performance challenges during the 2006/07 year. Lewisham, as one of the Operation Alliance boroughs, has devoted considerable resources into tackling serious youth violence.

13. The only increases April to December 2007 against April to December 2006 are Bexley up by 4.8% (13 offences) and Newham up 1.0% (16 offences).

Residential Burglary (Chart 3a & 3b)

4. Across the MPS residential burglary is recording a reduction of -0.6%, (283 fewer offences) April to December 2007 against April to December 2006.

15. iQuanta for the three months to December 2007 shows the MPS as in line with peers with no apparent change.

16. Since April to December 2003, the MPS has seen a total reduction of -13.6% in residential burglary (over 6,900 fewer offences). Reductions were seen in April to December 2004 (-8.2%), April to December 2006 (-7.6%) and April to December 2007 (-0.6%).

17. Reductions are currently being recoded on 17 boroughs, including ten with reductions of over -10%. Barking & Dagenham are seeing the largest percentage and volume reduction down -32% (287 offences).

18. Three boroughs are currently recording an increase of 20% or over, April to December 2007 against April to December 2006. Sutton is up 32% (148 offences), Bexley up 22% (164 offences) and Hillingdon up 22% (301 offences). Sutton also has the second highest increase over five years, in excess of 13%.

19. Boroughs performing well for this crime type have effective and robust daily monitoring processes, maximise their detection opportunities through forensics, manage warrants effectively and focus resources on this priority area. The converse appears to hold true for boroughs facing performance challenges.

20. Hackney has performed consistently well in reducing residential burglary longer term with over a -40% reduction over five years. The borough attributes this to effective systems and processes, a clear focus and grip from team leaders and SMT accountability for performance.

21. Sutton recognises its challenge around burglary and is re-focussing its BIU to target serious acquisitive crime until the end of the FY whilst maintaining support to SNTs and the geographic model. A new strategic assessment is in place with strong emphasis in daily tasking and targeting of offenders, handlers and crime generators in identified ward areas.

22. The BOCU has reorganised its CID to provide a dedicated crime squad tasked to the above plus providing Q-car coverage and a mobile CCTV van resulting in several successful operations with prolific offenders arrested. It is also fast-tracking DNA and fingerprint identifications for burglars.

Vehicle Crime (Chart 4a & 4b)

23. The MPS is currently recording an -8.1% reduction in vehicle crime, 7,989 offences fewer than in April to December 2006. The reduction in offence levels is similar in theft of vehicles and theft from vehicles. Theft of vehicles has reduced by -7.3% and theft from vehicles has reduced by -8.5%.

24. iQuanta for the three months to December 2007 shows the MPS as in line with peers and no apparent change.

25. 22 boroughs are currently recording a decrease in vehicle crime. These include, Havering down -29% (-828 offences), Hounslow down -20% (-618 offences) and Islington down -19% (-734 offences).

26. Islington has sustained this performance over five years with a reduction of almost –50%. It attributes this success to prioritising vehicle crime with partner agencies and effective crime prevention work. It identifies crime patterns at the earliest opportunity and allocates resources accordingly. Comprehensive media campaigns are also undertaken.

27. Havering has invested considerable resources in tackling this crime type. Successful initiatives include partnership purchase of £20,000 of steering locks, a Vehicle Watch scheme, robust policing of scrap metal dealers, effective use of Volunteer Cadets in crime prevention and extensive media campaigns.

28. Ten boroughs have recorded increases in vehicle crime. These include Greenwich up 25% (655 offences), Bexley up 15% (237 offences) and Kinston upon Thames up 14% (117 offences). No other borough had an increase of over 10%.

29. Greenwich has set up a vehicle crime squad to tackle the increase. The five wards with the highest vehicle crime offences have been asked to prioritise this in conjunction with their ward panels. The CDRP problem-solving group has provided additional funding support.

30. Theft of vehicle is down -7.3% (over 2,000 fewer offences) for April to December 2007 against April to December 2006. Eight boroughs are showing an increase in theft of vehicles including Barking & Dagenham up 14% (122 offences) and Kingston upon Thames up 13% (28 offences).

31. Theft of vehicle has also seen an excellent downward trend over the last five years seeing a total reduction of -35.7% (over 14,000 fewer offences) in April to December 2007 compared to April to December 2003. The last four years have all seen reductions.

32. Theft from vehicle is down -8.5% (over 5,900 fewer offences) for April to December 2007 against April to December 2006. Ten boroughs have recorded increases in theft from vehicle; these include Greenwich up by 35% (586 offences) and Bexley up 28% (259 offences).

33. Longer term, theft from vehicle has seen a reduction of -20.0% (over 15,000 fewer offences) for April to December 2007 against April to December 2003.

BCS Assaults (BCS Wounding & Common Assault) (Chart 5a & 5b)

34. Across the MPS BCS assaults is recording a reduction of -8.6%, over 8,400 fewer offences April to December 2007 against April to December 2006. The change in offence levels is similar between BCS wounding (down -9.5% with over 5,800 fewer offences) and common assault (down -7.2% with over 2,600 fewer offences).

35. Longer term, since April to December 2003 the MPS has seen a total reduction of -12.1% in BCS assaults (over 12,000 fewer offences).

36. Reductions are being recorded in 30 boroughs, including Bexley and Harrow with reductions over -18%. Lambeth and Croydon are showing the largest volume reductions both down by over 500 offences.

37. Only two boroughs are currently recording an increase; Newham up 8.4% (361 offences) and Southwark up 0.7% (28 offences).

38. Lewisham has had an overall increase of almost 15% over the last five years and had a particularly poor year in 2005/06, but the number of offences has fallen in the last two years.

Other BCS Offences

39. Criminal damage is recording a reduction of -10.1% (over 8,600 fewer offences) April to December 2007 against April to December 2006.

40. Longer term, since April to December 2003 the MPS has seen a total reduction of -29.6% in criminal damage (over 32,000 fewer offences). The last four years (April to December) have all seen reductions.

41. 29 boroughs are recording reductions in criminal damage including 14 with reductions over -10%. Only three boroughs are recording an increase of which only one is up over 5%.

42. Ealing and Camden have both had reductions of over -20% with large volume reductions. Community engagement through safer neighbourhood teams and effective partnership initiatives, i.e. graffiti removal teams, has contributed to the longer-term reduction in criminal damage. Camden has prioritised the resourcing of their SNTs with experienced staff.

43. Theft person is recording a reduction of -7.7% (over 2,100 fewer offences) April to December 2007 against April to December 2006. The split between pick-pocketing and snatch theft is very different as pick pocketing is up 8.2% (over 1,400 more offences) and snatch theft is down -34.5% (over 3,500 fewer offences).

44. A total of 21 boroughs are recording a reduction including Camden down -33.6% (931 fewer offences) and Hammersmith & Fulham down -32.0% (309 fewer offences). Westminster is recording the highest volume increase, up by over 600 offences, due mainly to an increase in pick-pocketing by eastern European gangs at the start of the year. Westminster has tackled this in partnership with Camden borough via Operation Tiffanie, which has stemmed the increase and in partnership with Thames Valley Police through Operation Golf.

45. Since April to December 2003 the MPS has seen a total reduction of -26.9% in theft person (over 9,400 fewer offences).

46. Theft of pedal cycle is currently seeing a reduction, down -7.2% (over 1,000 fewer offences). 13 boroughs are currently showing a reduction, including Lambeth and Southwark, with reductions of over -24%. Of the 19 boroughs showing an increase, two are of over 20%, Enfield is up 32% (48 offences) and Brent is up 25% (54 offences).

47. Since April to December 2003 the MPS has seen a total reduction of -10.8% in theft of pedal cycle (1,700 fewer offences). Increases were recorded in April to December 2004 and 2005, although reductions have been recorded since.

Total Notifiable Offences (TNO) Sanctioned Detection (SD) Rate (Chart 6 & Appendix 1)
48. The MPS are currently achieving a TNO sanction detection rate of 24.4% for April to December 2007 against a target of 24%. 19 boroughs are achieving the 24% target, including Redbridge and Hackney both with over 29%. Wandsworth is the only borough recording a rate less than 21%, with 19.2%.

49. iQuanta for the 12 months to December 2007 shows the MPS as in line with peers and clearly improving.

50. Sanction detection rates have risen every year (April to December) since 2003, when the rate was only 12.3%. In the last three years (April to December) sanction detection rates have risen by over 3 percentage points in each year.

51. The implications of the different types of sanction detections and the variation in usage recorded across boroughs are shown as a separate report in Appendix 1. This also looks at the quality of sanction detections, detailing what should drive boroughs rather than what in reality does.

Offences Brought To Justice (OBRJ) (Chart 7)

52. Offences brought to justice for April to November 2007 exceeded 146,000; this is up over 16,000 on the previous April to November which was in turn up over 17,500 on April to November 2005.

Gun Crime (Chart 8a & 8b)

53. Across the MPS gun crime is recording an increase of 3.3%, 84 more offences April to December 2007 against April to December 2006. This is a significant improvement on the last report when gun crime was showing an increase of 17.5%.

54. However, the small number of offences at BOCU level can lead to large percentage changes PYTD. Also, the Home Office definition of gun crime includes a large proportion of minor injuries caused by CS and pepper sprays, ball-bearing guns and air weapons.

55. Since April to December 2003 the MPS has seen a reduction of -12.8% (390 fewer offences).

56. 15 boroughs are currently recording a reduction in gun crime; Havering has the highest reduction both in percentage and volume down -47% (24 fewer offences). 16 boroughs are recording an increase including Merton up 87% (23 offences) and Westminster up 83% (48 offences). Greenwich is recording the highest volume increase, up 49 offences (53%) and has an increase over five years in excess of 140%.

Domestic Violence (DV) Incident Arrest Rate (Chart 9a)

57. The MPS is recording a DV incident arrest rate of 43.7% for April to December 2007. Three boroughs are recording rates of 50% or over Tower Hamlets with 73%, Havering with 68% and Westminster with 57%. Nine boroughs are recording rates under 40%.

58. Although the incident arrest rate remains an MPS CPA (critical performance area) until March 2008, the MPS are focusing their attention on the DV offence arrest rate as a more indicative indicator of performance. This features in the Tier 2 targets for 2008/09 and is an integral part of the new APACS framework.

59. This acknowledges that the previous target of ‘arrest at the time of attendance’ was often affected by offenders not being at the scene but still being arrested soon after. This target still maintains focus on the investigation of this significant offence with a target that is more reflective of the effort that is expended for an early arrest.

Domestic Violence (DV) Offence Arrest Rate (Chart 9b)

60. The MPS is recording a DV offence arrest rate of 62.8% for April to December 2007. 19 boroughs are recording rates of 60% or over including four with 70% or over. Havering is recording the highest DV offence arrest rate with 85%. No borough is recording a rate under 50%.

61. Havering attributes this to a clear focus and priority for front line officers when dealing with offenders, a robust positive arrest policy, effective use of the DV booklet 124D to minimise the risk of re-offending and good third party reporting processes.

Overall Victim Satisfaction (Chart 10)

62. The satisfaction data is for quarters 1-3 in 2007. The MPS has achieved an overall victim satisfaction level of 76.5% April to December 2007. Nine boroughs are achieving victim satisfaction levels of 80% or above including Harrow with 84%.

63. The overall victim satisfaction level for victims increased from 68% in FY 2004/05 to 79% in FY 2005/06 then remained fairly level achieving 78% in FY 2006/07.

White and BME Victim Satisfaction (Chart 11)

64. The difference in overall satisfaction for White and BME (black and minority ethnic) victims for April to December 2007 is 6.9%. This is slightly greater than the difference of 6% recorded in FY 2006/07. 13 boroughs are recording a difference of less than 5% between the satisfaction of White and BME victims.

PPSG BOCUs highlighted for strong performance

65. The Home Office PPSG (Police Performance Steering Group) meeting in June 2007 highlighted Barnet, Kingston and Merton as strong performing areas.

Barnet

66. Barnet’s success is due to an increased focus on performance through the Daily Management Meetings (DMMs), increased proactivity, encouraging managers to look for 'connectivity' between departments on operational challenges and devolved responsibility processes. A dedicated responsibility in terms of gatekeeeping, SMT leads and defined roles for units have all contributed to clarity for staff.

67. The roll out of the SNTs has played a huge part in delivering on performance for the Borough as the levels of local knowledge, sensitivity to local concerns and a more considered approach to crime and disorder now takes place.

68. ASBOs, CCTV, Licensing and CPDAs have links and a common set of goals. All are now under the same inspector and have regular team meetings to identify opportunities to support each other. All the inspectors have been given greater responsibility and there are increased links with the SMT and particularly the Borough Commander.

69. Youth issues have been focussed on with a dedicated inspector, increased resources to the Schools team, YOT and support for restorative Justice.

70. Motivational tools such as SMT attendance at briefings, patrolling and awards such as Patrol Officer of the Month have all helped to develop a more cohesive response to operational challenges. All staff are encouraged to get it right first time in everything they do, from arrest notes, crime scene investigations through to basic documentation.

Kingston

71. Kingston consider that process compliance is a key factor for success. It is a small Borough with few squads so compliance is critical, i.e. its Forensics identification process is better than many who have squads because it is managed via the Daily Intelligence Meeting.

72. It is benefiting from some good solid foundations for partnership working i.e. a criminal damage officer at council and town centre partners led to investment in night time economy issues and thus reduced violence.

73. Other examples of good practice include its detections process. It has a mix of police officers and police staff in the CMU, a DS in place who knows searches and rules in depth, a high charge and caution rate and an outstanding CJU inspector. Its BIU prioritises activity and is tasking well.

74. its workforce profile is a contributory factor, e.g. higher number of detective sergeants than similar Boroughs. This is deliberate and pays dividends regarding leadership of teams such as Burglary Team, Robbery Team or CMU and the effective supervision of a young workforce. Having the right people in the right posts is crucial, linked to a strong performance focus and culture.

75. In summary, there is clarity as to priorities and standards at Kingston with a motivated and well-led workforce. SMT business is done as a risk register so everyone focuses on challenges to the Borough and not individual or isolated functions.

Merton

76. Merton puts its success down to well-embedded, active partnership working, especially at local SNT level and integrated with problem solving. It has a highly effective PPO (Persistent and Priority Offender) scheme, which it considers to have contributed most to the 70% reduction in burglary since 2004. It also has a real focus on diversion for young people in conjunction with a Children, Schools and Families Department that is clearly aware of its s17 responsibilities.

77. Particularly successful initiatives at Merton include the ‘alleygates’ scheme in Pollards Hill, the Harris Academy, Merton, the Council's CCTV suite, the Eco-Actif offender rehabilitation scheme and the Youth Awareness Programme in Mitcham.

C. Race and equality impact

1. Although there are varying borough performances, the MPS remains committed to making the whole of London safer. Furthermore, equalities implications of performance against individual targets are considered in the in-depth performance reports throughout the year, which examine performance at the corporate level.

2. Within the TP monitoring framework there is recognition of diversity issues relevant to the basket of performance measures, where particular attention is paid to crimes against women, young people and specific communities.

D. Financial implications

There are no financial or resource implications of the current work.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Acting Commander Steve Bloomfield, SE Link and Performance, TPHQ, MPS

For more information contact:

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

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