Specialist Crime Directorate management information

Report: 6
Date: 11 September 2008
By: AC Specialist Crime on behalf of the Commissioner

Summary

This report gives a summary of Specialist Crime Directorate’s performance against their key objectives from 1 April 2008 to 30 June 2008.

A. Recommendation

That Members note the report.

B. Supporting information

1. This report provides management information on Specialist Crime Directorate’s (SCD) performance against its objectives for the period 1 April to 30 June 2008 inclusive. The data has been reconciled with Performance Information Bureau and where applicable should match the information contained in the corporate submission.

2. The report reflects on performance against the Directorate’s key objectives and core performance indicators. It comments on the performance data provided and against the agreed targets. It also provides a summary of some of our operational successes and developmental initiatives.

3. A summary of the key points for members is as follows:

Child Abuse

Measure	Target	Actual	Status
CAIC overall sanction detection rate	20%	23.9%
Sanction detection rate for child rape	42%	45.6%

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4. Of the 2,319 offences investigated involving intra-familial abuse by the Child Abuse Investigation Command (CAIC), 555 were detected. This provides a sanction detection rate of 23.9%, which is exactly the same on last year (2,105 offences /503 detections). Two years ago, the detection rate was around 14%. The number of offences being reported has increased by 214, a rise of 10.2%. The increase could be attributed to a greater confidence and willingness in the public to report these crimes.

5. The borough with the highest number of intra-familial offences is Lambeth with 147 (Lewisham last year with 128). The borough with the lowest number of offences is Richmond-upon-Thames and Kingston-upon-Thames with 23 (last year Richmond-upon-Thames with 26).

6. Hammersmith and Fulham has the highest sanction detection rate with 48% (25 offences/12 detections). Richmond-upon-Thames has the lowest with 0% (23 offences/0 detections). .

7. There has been an increase in the number of child rape offences. There were 103 offences and of these 47 or 45.6% have been detected. This compares with last year’s figure of 66 offences, an increase of 37 or 35.9%; there were also 33 detections providing a 50% sanction detection rate.

8. The borough with the highest number of child rape offences is Lewisham 10 (last year Wandsworth with 6). There are six boroughs where an offence has not been recorded (last year seven boroughs).

9. Seven boroughs have a 100% or more sanction detection rate compared with five last year. Also seven boroughs have yet to record any detections FYTD. That position could very quickly change as all have relatively low numbers of offences.

10. The number of allegations has increased by 160, from 2,433 to 2,593. Eleven boroughs account for just over 50%.

11. Child Abuse Investigation Command are supplying a paper and reporting to the same committee and are likely to include a more detailed update on their performance.

Criminal Networks

Measure	Target (year to date)	Actual	Status
Number of criminal networks disrupted (end of year target 350)	121 [1]	117
Value of assets identified by court order for seizure (end of year target £42m)	£10.5m	£5.4m
The number of cases where assets were restrained or seized increased by 20% on 2007/08 performance (end of year target 2,250)	562	563

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12. There were 84 confirmed disruptions of criminal networks at the end of June (117 financial year-to-date, 31 July). We are currently four below the year-to-date target. If we continue at the current average we will just fall short of end-of-year target. This is very unlikely as over the coming weeks there are fortnightly panel meetings taking place supplemented by dedicated site visits to specialist units.

13. The panel has rejected 22 claims from units FYTD and 17 require further evidence. In these instances, either the claim did not prove the existence of a gang/criminal network against the criteria or it was not apparent a disruption had taken place. Where more evidence is required, usually a piece of information is missing that the panel are not prepared to infer or fill in a gap. By establishing and working closely with a single point of contact in each OCU it is hoped this will generally further improve the standard of submissions.

14. The value of assets identified by court order for seizure currently stands at £5.4m. To achieve the end of year target a further £36.6m of assets need to be seized in the remaining nine months at an average of just over £4m per month. This is a challenging target. With the emerging results from Operation Rize, the seizures are likely to make a major contribution toward the final total.

15. The number of cases where assets were restrained or seized is 563. This is a current weekly average of 43. This is shadowing the start of year average target of 43 cases. This measure indicates the level of activity/compliance in applying the Proceeds of Crime Act legislation throughout the organisation. It is hoped to provide a breakdown by business group in future papers.

16. The MPS Disruption Panel assessed a number of claims from Economic and Specialist Crime OCU’s Computer Crime Unit. Their presentations raised a number of issues for the disruption panel to consider:

• In some cases, it was difficult to prove the impact of the networks criminality on London. It was known that the network, not always based in the UK, had created a virus that was able to infiltrate a massive number of computers across the world and gain access to private information – normally financial information and passwords – however, it was not possible to identify how many of these computers were specifically in London. Victims are not always aware that their data has been compromised
• There were also issues regarding the impact of the disruption on the network. In some cases although a server, containing information and through which viruses were routed had been seized, it had not always led to the arrest, or identification of individuals. Therefore it was difficult to assess 1) the presence of a criminal network and 2) the impact the removal of the server would have on their criminality

17. It was acknowledged by the panel that these networks were likely to impact on London’s communities, but it was extremely difficult to prove this. In order to ensure consistency across the panels when making decisions it has been proposed that the Computer Crime Unit gives a presentation to all panel members to show the speculative impact of these types of networks (from evidence collated across a number of different cases) on London. This would enable the panel as a whole to develop a benchmark for the assessment of disruptions of this type and decide whether, in future, the London impact and presence of a network could be reasonably inferred.

Gun Crime

Measure	Target	Actual	Status
Reduction in gun crime	-5%	-29.7%
Gun enabled crime sanction detection rate	25%	21.3%

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18. There has been a significant decrease of 239 or 29.7% in gun crime offences recorded in the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). There were 564 offences compared with 803 for the same period last financial year. SCD had responsibility for the investigation of 161 or 28.5% offences committed in this crime category.

19. Lewisham is the borough with most gun crime offences in this reporting period with 49 recorded (Lambeth last year with 69 offences). Richmond-upon-Thames borough had the least reported with three offences (Kingston-upon-Thames last year with 2 offences). Eleven boroughs account for 55% of reported gun crime offences. Twenty-two boroughs have seen a decrease in the number of offences when compared with last year.

20. Currently the weekly average is just over 43. If this rate continues the end of year forecast is likely to be around 2,255 offences. A projected decrease of 668 offences or 23% on last year’s final figure of 2,923 offences. To achieve the 3% reduction target the remaining weekly average should not exceed 60 offences.

21. The overall MPS gun crime sanction detection rate is 21.3%. The target is 25%. There have been 120 FYTD detections. The detection rate has improved by 2.1 percentage points when compared with the last financial year (19.2%). SCD has detected 51 or 31.7% of the offences they investigated.

22. The above graph illustrates that compared with the past three years there has been a significant decrease in gun crime offences. The figures are aligned to the new APACS definition in that they do not contain CS spray or incapacitants but are yet to include intimated offences. The figure for the first quarter 2008/09 is almost halved that of 2005/06.

Commercial Robbery with Firearms

23. There were 104 commercial robbery offences with firearms investigated by Serious and Organised Crime OCU. Of these 40 were detected, providing a sanction detection rate of 38.5%. This compares with a detection rate of 18.8% (165 offences/31 detections) for same period last year. Offences have decreased by 61 or 36.9% and detections increased by 9 or 29%. The boroughs with the highest number of offences are Lewisham and Southwark with 10 (last year Croydon with 28). Eleven boroughs account for 50% of offences. Also, 26 boroughs have had five or fewer offences recorded this year, four more than last year.

24. Seven boroughs have a sanction detection rate of 100% or more, compared with three last year.

Trident Shootings, Prevention and Investigation Command gun enabled crime

25. There were 41 Trident related non-fatal and fatal shooting offences during this reporting period. This is a decrease of 13 or 24% on last year. Trident’s overall sanction detection rate is currently 19.5%, eight offences having been detected. This is an increase on last year’s figure of 16.7%. Fatal shootings have decreased by one, from three to two on the previous year. The borough with the highest number of reported offences is Lambeth with eight (last year Waltham Forest 11). Seventeen boroughs have not had a Trident related shooting this financial year, compared with eighteen last year. Only seven boroughs have had more than one reported offence.

26. The borough with the largest decrease in offences when compared to last year is Waltham Forest with ten (from 11 reduced to one), a reduction of 90%.

27. The northeast Trident team gathered together a working group involving key leads from Waltham Forest BOCU. They identified prominent local criminal offenders and specific areas they frequented. A three phase proactive operation was implemented to target and disrupt the established criminal networks within the Borough. It was apparent that many of the members had attended school together and lived alongside each other for many years. Their criminal activity was impacting on performance of the Borough and having a detrimental affect on community reassurance in the area. After adopting a joint approach with Borough, 'test purchase' operations in a variety of locations took place. These resulted in the arrest of 15 individuals for supplying drugs. Several firearms and a considerable amount of cash were seized. Some of those arrested were leading members of the criminal network. The police activity had a significant impact on the network’s ability to function and continue their illegal pursuits. The collaborative working between the Trident team and Borough is ongoing. The robust approach to firearm activity continues particularly by executing many firearm searches within the borough.

Trident other shootings

28. There were 16 other non-fatal offences investigated by the Shootings, Prevention and Investigation Command (formerly Trafalgar). Of these, three have been detected, providing a detection rate of 18.8%. This compares with a detection rate of 16.7% (24 offences/four detections) for same period last year. Offences have decreased by eight or 33% and detections are one fewer. The borough with the highest number of offences is Redbridge with three (last year Bromley with four). There are currently 22 boroughs that have not had this type of shooting offence this financial year, compared with 21 for last year.

29. The borough with the highest detection rate is Ealing with 100% (two offences/two detections)

30. The current sanction detection rate is not reaching the target of 25%. To achieve this the difference is just another detection. When dealing with low volume serious crime the rate is subject to fluctuations and the position can change rapidly over a reporting period.

31. When taking all the crimes, including non-gun crime offences that the OCU investigates into consideration the detection rate is closer to 45%.

32. For a borough comparison of Trident fatal and non-fatal offences this financial year compared with last year’s reporting period are detailed in Appendix 1.

Homicide

Measure	Target	Actual	Status
Overall homicide detection rate	85%	86%

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33. The overall homicide detection rate for reporting period is 86%, this compares with the detection rate of 65.3% for same period last year. An improvement of 20.7 percentage points and above target. There were 43 homicide offences with 37 detections. Of these there were three pre-financial year detections providing an in-year detection rate of 79%.

34. There were six fewer homicides when compared with same reporting period last financial year. The borough with the highest number of homicide offences is Brent with five or 11.6% of offences (last year Lambeth with eight). Four boroughs account for 28% of homicides. Eleven boroughs are yet to record a homicide offence this reporting period (nine boroughs last year). Only three boroughs have recorded three or more offences, compared with five last year. Eleven boroughs have a 100% or more detection rate, this compares with thirteen for last year.

35. Trident Major Investigation Teams have had two homicide offences to investigate; one of these has been detected. This provides a detection rate of 50%. There were four pre-financial year detections giving an in-year detection rate of 43.7%. There is one less offence and two fewer detections when compared with last year. Only two boroughs have recorded a Trident related homicide, one fewer than last year.

36. Child Abuse Investigation Command’s Major Investigations Teams have investigated three homicide offences. None have been detected. There were three fewer offences and detections when compared with last year’s reporting period. Homicides have occurred in two boroughs this reporting period, four last year.

37. The following tables illustrate the comparable number of homicides, victim ethnicity and their age range over the last five years.

Number of homicide offences (Jan-June)

There has been a downward trend in the number of recorded offences. A reduction when compared to 2004 of 17. The current mid-calendar year position is at the lowest level for five years.

Victim ethnicity ( Jan - June)

There have not been any significant changes to the ethnicity of victims over the five-year time period. The proportion of their mid-year total has more or less remained constant.

Victim age range ( Jan - June)

The victim age in some of the ranges have remained fairly consistent. In 2007, there was a spike in the 0-10 age range. The last two years in the 11-20 age range though has more than doubled when compared with 2006 level. The age ranges 21-30 and 41-50 are showing a decrease when compared with 2004.

Murder law changes

38. The proposed reforms of the law on homicide will have no change or impact to the number of offences reported and counted. The offence of homicide includes murder, manslaughter and infanticide. The changes are looking to replace the partial defence of provocation with ‘fear of serious violence’ and in exceptional circumstances ‘seriously wronged’. These are limited to the way a murder charge is reduced to manslaughter.

Witness anonymity

39. The passing of emergency legislation that allows witnesses, in sensitive criminal trials, to give evidence anonymously, was welcomed by those investigating violent and serious offenders. The legislation had been brought in at the request of Minister for Justice, Jack Straw, following a ruling by the House of Lords in relation to a Trident case. The House of Lords had ruled that Ian Davis, who was jailed in 2004 for murdering two men at a New Year's Eve party in east London, received an unfair trial because three eye-witnesses gave evidence against him with the benefit of full anonymity, including voice distortion. In their ruling in June, the Law Lords argued it was a fundamental principle of English law that the accused should be able to see his accusers and challenge them. The emergency legislation will now apply to both defence and prosecution witnesses. The measures are only used as a last resort in the most serious of circumstances. Witnesses are encouraged to come forward to give evidence and special measures can be an important tool in bringing violent criminals to prosecution. This should reassure vulnerable witnesses in future prosecutions and maintain their confidence to give evidence. It was estimated that in England and Wales there were 580 current cases involving anonymous evidence, mostly to prevent intimidation. A significant number of those involved the MPS and would have had major implications for successful prosecutions in many of our cases now and in the future.

Met Intelligence Bureau (MIB) – Progress to date

Establish a Corporate Tasking process with MIB at its heart

40. This section looks at the process of setting up and establishing a central MPS’s Intelligence Bureau and progress against key deliverables.

41. We now have responsibility for a much developed and improved corporate tactical tasking process at which each Business Group is represented at Deputy Assistant Commissioner level. The meeting is serviced by MIB and the MPS Co-ordinating and Tasking Office units (CaTO), all of which are now co-located. Two come under the line management of MIB. Our Research Development and Analysis section provides the key intelligence products that drive this meeting and inform subsequent tasking decisions. Through a clear meeting structure, we are able to audit decisions about its use of intelligence and deliver better results.

42. Our strategic and tactical intelligence assessments now drive MPS Corporate Tasking processes. The Corporate Crime Control Strategy Priorities have been agreed and ACPO leads assigned for each priority. The Strategic Intelligence Assessment (SIA) has been provided to all ACPO leads, proving insight and supporting their development of the strategy for their area of responsibility. The MIB’s monthly Tactical Assessments have a substantial influence over large-scale deployments in London.

43. Before the existence of MIB, bids for resources were often single-OCU or single Business Group based. Since the creation of the MIB, the Tactical Assessments have looked at each bid and assessed whether it would benefit from being more joined-up with others. This has led to better working across business groups.

44. Priority crime desks have been established to support the MPS Priorities. Each priority has an ACPO lead and the MIB desk provide information to get a full picture of the situation. MIB are recruiting to get teams up to full establishment. The tasking process was intended to lead to a greater focus on MPS Priorities. In 2007/8, a total of 612 deployments of corporate assets and funding were made by the Corporate Tasking Panel, on the recommendation of the new joint working Coordination and Tasking Office (CATO). These recommendations were made by a cross-CaTO meeting, taking into consideration the following criteria:

• the current MIB tactical assessment;
• recent performance;
• the overarching priorities highlighted in the strategic intelligence assessment; and
• any current Performance Board directives

45. Of the 612 deployments during 2007/8 authorised by the Corporate Tasking Panel, 98% (601) met the criteria and only 11 (under 2%) were outside the criteria (these included where support was required for other forces). Whilst there is no comparative data, this already shows a focus on MPS priorities.

46. Due to the more flexible structure that the creation of the MIB has enabled, the MIB was able to respond to and actively support the five Borough Gang Project through Operation Alliance.

47. The MPS’s tasking process is in place and developing. Corporate Coordination and Tasking Office is fully established. MIB is supporting Operation Blunt 2 on a daily basis. MIB has developing a team to support the Notting Hill Carnival 2008.

To increase 24/7 capacity to support operational policing

48. The MIB is increasing its capability in three main areas and including Telephone Intelligence, 24/7 Intelligence and Operational Support.

49. The MIB’s Telephone Intelligence Unit (TIU) is being enhanced to support operational policing. Recruitment plans are in place. There was a 30% increase in telephone investigative enquiries last calendar year (up to 71,000 requests for data). Around 60% of these enquiries are in support of Territorial Policing and the remainder in support of investigations led by SCD. However, SCD's work is typically more complex, more costly and time consuming. The vast majority of "urgent operational" support is on behalf of SCD.

50. It has supported over 400 'life at immediate risk' operations out of hours - this includes kidnaps, threats to life (R v Osman) and suicidal/vulnerable missing persons. Without the assistance of the TIU provides, investigative teams would be severely hampered in all of these areas and might have resulted in loss of life.

51. Over 1,000 ‘urgent operational activity’ investigations were supported. These data sets are vital to the timely and effective progress of a wide range of reactive and proactive investigations, including murder or manhunts, shootings, contracts to kill and other critical incident and high profile investigations.

52. Capacity is being increased to enhance TIU capability to provide 24/7 coverage, which should improve support, particularly to threats to life operations. Investment Board bid approved to turn the unit into a 24/7 unit. This will provide greater resilience and ensure continued support for the most high profile and demanding investigations.

24/7 Intelligence Support Team

53. In support of the Bichard Recommendations, we have created a team of staff within the MIB 24/7 Intelligence Support team to carry out Impact Nominal Index (INI) based information requests received from other forces. These were previously completed by Borough Intelligence Units. The new team started in February 2008 and there has been a considerable improvement in the response to such requests thereby ‘Increasing the amount of quality intelligence available to wider MPS and other forces, agencies and partners (seeing the whole picture). The creation of the new team was a significant investment in resources for the MPS to improve its approach to the use of INI. The MPS is engaged with the NPIA in the development of the Police National Database by 2010 and beyond.

54. All MPS intelligence Units have been provided with access to INI and are able to access national data about their sex offenders, serious crime and child protection issues. The MPS use of INI has increased to the highest in the UK this makes a significant contribution to the MPS sharing information and intelligence around serious crime nationally and makes in-roads into compliance with the Management of Police Information (MOPI) guidance by making communities safer and reducing risk.

55. MIB gained access to Crimint Plus, the MPS’s new Intelligence system in July 2008. This is significant activity for us, as it will ensure that we are compliant with the principles of the Management of Police Information (MOPI). This unit was established within existing resources and was set up to ensure we deliver our intelligence management responsibilities on behalf of the MPS.

Establishing the London Regional Intelligence Unit (LRIU)

56. The Regional Intelligence Unit has been formed with staff from MPS, City of London police and BTP. Staff from the Serious and Organised Crime Agency will start shortly. The Regional Intelligence Unit is looking at London Organised Criminal Networks that have an impact nationally.

Physical co-location of Intelligence Units

57. As part of the project, the MIB has been totally restructured to manage intelligence more effectively, in line with National Intelligence Model (NIM), Management of Police Information (MOPI) and MPS business requirements. Units are now structured around five processes:

• Recording, Evaluation and Dissemination (RED)
• Research, Development and Analysis (RDA)
• Telecommunications (TIU)
• Operational Support (Confidential Telecommunications), and
• Management Support.

The International Crime Co-ordination Unit will be incorporated within MIB and will enable more joined-up liaison with organisations outside the MPS.

Performance Management

58. Our development is now supported by a Performance Management Framework. To ensure good use of our resources, a monthly performance report is produced, which is discussed at every level to drive performance and activity. This is aligned to capture benefits measures, where possible, in this base-lining year. The framework includes feedback on customer satisfaction from those who have used our services, in support of the Citizens Focus Agenda. Supervisors within MIB are contacting users every month and documenting feedback from the ‘call-back’ system. So far, 90% of people using our services are very or fairly satisfied. An on-going programme of both internal and external customer surveys will measure how well these benefits continue to be realised.

Other Operational successes

59. A selection of significant operational successes is highlighted below. They have all tended to involve working in collaboration with other MPS units or external agencies.

60. Two drug dealers will spend a total of 27 years behind bars after they stashed £4.35m worth of heroin into their cars. They were arrested after police observed a transfer of holdalls from the boot of one vehicle into another. Both cars were stopped after pulling away from the scene of the deal. The boot’s contents revealed 54 kilos of heroin stockpiled inside two holdalls. Both men were charged for their roles in supplying Class A drugs. Leading the investigation was the MPS's Projects Team, part of the Serious and Organised Crime OCU. Officers went on to search home addresses. Inside a fitted wardrobe, they found £48k in cash. One suspect claimed he was only picking up leaflets that he had ordered from a printing business. They were not ready but asked to deliver the holdalls instead in return for £250. Both men pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court and were sentenced.

61. A 21-year-old man has become the first armed robber to be tried and convicted using SmartWater in a Flying Squad investigation. He was found guilty at Crown Court of conspiracy to rob following a string of robberies across east London. During his trial evidence was presented on how SmartWater, an invisible liquid that can only be seen under ultra-violet light, played a crucial role in the investigation. The chemical, installed in the blue security dye in G4S cashboxes, meant recovered stolen money could easily be traced back to a number of robberies on cash-in-transit vehicles. Four juveniles, aged 14 and 16, had previously pleaded guilty to the joint charge. Earlier this year Flying Squad officers were carrying out a surveillance operation on the suspects. The group had spent the morning touring east London looking for a van to rob before finally settling on a vehicle in Enfield. Three of the juveniles were in a stolen vehicle while the older suspect directed operations from another vehicle with the fourth youth. Two of the youths tried to wrestle the cash box, containing £3.6k, from the security guard. When he resisted, they wrenched his arm back and forced him to let go. The youths then made off in the vehicle. Officers followed and watched the box explode in a cloud of red dye in the back of the car. The youths were detained while the other juvenile was arrested as they regrouped at their base, a fast food restaurant. The man escaped but was arrested at a later date. The court heard that detectives were first alerted to his activities when he began attempting to launder hundreds of pounds in cash using gaming machines. He was seen to discard red dye-stained clothing in a wheelie bin near his home. The items, plus a glove stained with blue dye, were recovered. After his arrest, searches of his aunt's address where he had been staying revealed cash also dyed blue, hidden under his mattress. Detectives submitted the evidence to SmartWater scientists for testing. The results revealed that the money had been stolen during a cash-in-transit robbery in Enfield. A total of £25k had been taken – he was seen trying to launder it less than two hours later. The cash under the mattress was found to be part of two other robberies. Traces of SmartWater on the glove were identified as being linked to money stolen during a robbery on a security van.

62. A registered paedophile who passed extreme images and videos of very young children abuse to officers and used secret coat pockets and compartments in his car to conceal the material was sentenced at court. The pensioner admitted the possession, making and distributing of indecent images of children, including a baby only a few weeks old, at Crown Court. He was given an indeterminate sentence with a recommendation he serve two years and two months. He had previous conviction for rape and sexual assaults of children dating back to 1986 and was arrested at an Internet Café, following an investigation by the MPS's Paedophile Unit. He was in the process of downloading a video depicting the abuse of a baby. He was duped by covert officers into communicating with them and sent indecent images and videos of abuse involving children aged from a few weeks to 13 years. Officers managed to trace him to the café he used and when arrested found a secret pocket in his coat where he stored memory-sticks containing the abusive images. Searches of his car revealed more secret compartments and in excess of 600 indecent images on his computer.

63. Officers from the Economic and Specialist Crime Command have now seized in excess of £50m as part of Operation Rize in which seven addresses have been raided in an intelligence-led operation targeting a safe depository business. Other findings so far include two firearms, fraudulent credit card applications, counterfeit passports, drugs, child pornography, money believed to be linked to human trafficking, several works of art, counterfeit currency and high value jewellery. Searching continues at two of the addresses. The operation is the first of this scale the MPS has ever conducted against criminals using this type of secure storage. It is likely to take a protracted amount of time to establish the legitimacy of all the cash and items recovered, however the call centre has received a large number of calls from the public seeking the return of their property. This line is open from 8am to 8pm. The enquiry is focused on those individuals who are using these premises for criminal purposes. Each safe deposit box will be handled and packaged individually by forensically trained staff. The searches are likely to take some time to complete. All items will be carefully handled by police and stored at a secure location.

64. A man has been handed down a life sentence on his fortieth birthday - for the murder of an elderly woman that he committed when he was 26 years old. It is the latest success in police investigating so-called 'cold cases'. He was found guilty at the Old Bailey today of the murder of an 83-year-old woman in 1994. He will serve a minimum of 15 years. The victim was found after a member of the public called police late at night to an address in east London where they found her lying unconscious in her hallway with the front door open. After her death at hospital, a post-mortem gave cause of death as bronchial pneumonia and a severe head injury. She had been severely beaten about the head by the intruder. A ‘cold case’ review was launched in 2005 and subsequent enquiries by the Homicide and Serious Crime Command led to an arrest. A palm print in blood had been found above the victim's bed and advances in technology meant officers could search databases looking for a match. He had committed a relatively minor crime in 2007 for which his details were taken - and his palm prints matched those for the murder. In court, his defence was simply to deny that the palm print was his. A motive is unclear but it is believed he may have got inside her home while high on drugs in a burglary attempt.

Developmental initiatives

65. The following are examples of developmental initiatives and recognition. The MPS received top marks in Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies Major Crime Report and positive feedback from the their Serious Organised Crime Report. The Major Crime Report marked the MPS as exceeding the standard and delivering at the appropriate level for the higher risks being faced in addressing major crime. The inspection looked at major crime investigation across the organisation, from BOCU through to SCD core business. The marking reflects the requirement on us to counter high threat levels and discharge our regional and lead force responsibilities. Our successful report will now be used as a benchmark for other forces. The Serious Organised Crime Report is not graded but verbal feedback has been fulsome. In the Major Crime Report 36% of the inspected areas of business were designated to have NO areas for improvement and within Serious Organised Crime it was even better with 37%. As is normal within both reports there are areas for improvement but many of these have already been achieved or are well underway due to the inspections beginning in 2007 and based mainly on data that is about ten months old.

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 Crime policing services tailored to the needs of individuals and communities. The contents of this performance report should fully comply with equal opportunities policies and associated MPA/MPS Diversity issues.

D. Financial implications

There are no financial implications as all of the data featured in this report is already produced regularly by the MPS.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author(s): Raymond Marshall, Specialist Crime Directorate, Performance Improvement Unit

For more information contact:

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

Abbreviations and Acronyms

ACPO

Association of Chief Police Officers

CAIC 

Child Abuse Investigation Command

CAIT

Child Abuse Investigation Team

CaTO

Co-ordinating and Tasking Office

CRIS

Crime Reporting Information System

CPS

Crown Prosecution Service

FYTD

Financial year-to-date

GEC

Gun enabled crime

HMIC

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies

INI

Impact Nominal Index

MIB

Met Intelligence Bureau

MPA

Metropolitan Police Authority

MPS

Metropolitan Police Service

NIM

National Intelligence Model

OCU

Operational Command Unit

SCD

Specialist Crime Directorate

TP

Territorial Policing

Key

	Improvement on last reporting period	No change on last reporting period	Deterioration on on last reporting period
On target
Just below target
Significantly below target

Appendix 1

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