MPS Professional Standards Strategy: Progress on Strand 4

Report: 7
Date: 12 January 2004
By: Commissioner

Summary

The MPS Professional Standards Strategy is a re-launched and re-focused MPS Corruption and Dishonesty Strategy. It has been produced following consultation within the MPS and with Members of the Professional Standards and Complaints Committee (PSCC) of the MPA.

The new strategy was launched in August 2002 and work on delivering the strategy commenced.

This is a report on the progress relating to Strand 4 – Organisational and Individual Learning

A. Recommendation

Members are invited to note the content of the report describing the progress on Strand 4 of the MPS Professional Standards Strategy – Organisational and Individual Learning.

B. Supporting information

1. In 1998 the Metropolitan Police Service launched the Corruption and Dishonesty Prevention Strategy, which aimed to ‘engender pride and trust in the integrity of the Metropolitan Police Service by preventing and detecting corruption, dishonesty and unethical behaviour'.

2. The Professional Standards Strategy is the new five-year strategy, which will see a significant shift of emphasis. The MPS will direct greater effort towards prevention and reducing the risks to our staff and the community. In short there will be a greater balance between prevention and detection, whilst at the same time maintaining the threat or fear of detection.

3. The work for the next five years will be organised under five new strands of activity:

• Leadership and supervision
• Security and Management of information and intelligence
• Recognition of the diversity of our communities and staff
• Identifying and reacting to organisational and individual learning
• Maintaining the threat of detection, prevention and management of risk

4. Each strand has its own prioritised work plan and timescale.

5. Context of the strategy:

• This re-launched and re-focused Strategy is a high level statement of intention, which supports the MPS Mission, Vision and Values; and the MPS 3 Year Corporate Plan - ' Safest City- The Strategy’.
• The MPS acknowledge that the vast majority of our staff is honest, professional and brave.
• The Professional Standards Strategy will focus activity over the next 5 years.
• It will be underpinned by more detailed specific work plans developed by the strand leads and their working groups. MPS priorities will be reflected therein.
• It is a dynamic document, the progress of which will be reported quarterly to the MPS Professional Standards Strategic Committee, and onward to the MPA Professional Standards and Complaints Committee.

6. It has been agreed that the progress on individual stands will be presented to the Committee at separate meetings throughout the year.

7. The progress on Strands 1,2,3 and 5 were reported at meetings during 2003. This paper relates to Strand 4.

8. The overarching purpose of the Strand is:

‘To identify and disseminate learning which will lead a continuous improvement in standards’

9. The expected outcome is:

‘The MPS is recognised as a learning organisation that is dynamic and forward thinking. Our staff are focused on achieving excellent results in delivering our services to the people of London.

The work within this strand will provide MPS staff with a better understanding of Professional Standards issues whilst developing them as individuals’.

10. The committee will be aware that DAC Steve Roberts was recently appointed as Director of DPS and he assumed the Chair of the MPS Professional Standard Strategic Committee. A key responsibility is to drive the implementation of the MPS Professional Standards Strategy.

11. Following the appointment DAC Roberts undertook a review of all 5 strands, which make up the strategy. He undertook the review with a view to:

• Gaining and understanding of the work within the separate strands of work;
• To identify any gaps.
• To provide any necessary strategic development.
• The results of the review in respect of strand 4 were as follows: -
• There remains a need to ensure that all staff have a clear understanding of the ethical and behavioural requirements that membership of the MPS brings with it.
• There is a need to integrate and coordinate the various pieces of work currently in train in order to bring clarity and avoid duplication of effort.
• There remains a need to ensure that learning and its dissemination throughout the MPS is achieved in a more effective way.
• This review was discussed at the MPS Professional Standards Strategic Committee meeting on the 13 November. The committee agreed with the reviews findings and made the following decisions: -
• That the Director of Human Resources be approached with a view to Human Resources Directorate taking responsibility for future work within this strand;
• The priorities for work during 2004 will focus on: -
  • The development of a concise and legally binding code of ethics for the Metropolitan Police Service mirroring the Police Service of Northern Island model; and
  • The implementation of Substance Misuse Testing within the MPS.

12. The Director of Human Resource Directorate has agreed to appoint a senior member of his staff to lead on this work. Progress on the priorities is summarised below.

13. Code of ethics

• The development of a Code of Ethics for recruits is currently in draft form;
• An information Code of Conduct was agreed by the Professional Standards Strategic Committee on the 13 November and will be marketed and implemented in early 2004;
• The development of a composite police staff and police officer misconduct code is being developed with the IPCC. This will be in position by April 2004; and
• Occupation standards for diversity as it relates to policing skills within the national competency framework are currently being developed.

14. Substance of misuse testing

• Our Substance Abuse Policy was published in June 2000.
• In October 2001 ACPO, through PAB (EW) sought powers to require Police Officers to provide samples.
• Delays have occurred, however, the subject has returned to the PAB agenda in October 2003.
• It will be 2 years or more before compulsory powers are available.
• The MPS have welcomed the reintroduction of the issue to the National Agenda.
• The DPS Strategic Intelligence Assessment, presented at the last committee meeting, indicate that ‘Substance misuse poses a significant and growing threat to the integrity and operational effectiveness of the MPS, together with the safety of our staff and the public.’
• A project board and steering group has been set up with Staff Association representation;
• The primary aims of the project are to progressively introduce proportionate testing and position the MPS for the introduction of compulsory testing.
• The Project Director and Chair of the Project Board is Mike Shurety a Director of HR Services;
• The Project Manager commenced on the 17 November 2003;
• The Project Initiation Document has been drafted, leads on key elements identified and timescales outlined;
• Work will commence on the key elements in December 2003. The key elements are as follows:
  • An overarching policy including options for testing and legal issues;
  • A communications and marketing plan;
  • Standard Operating Procedures for the following:
    1. Pre employment screening.
    2. Post Incident Testing
    3. With Cause testing
    4. Specialist Post and Promotion testing and
    5. Testing during the Probationary period; and
  • An implementation plan.

C. Equality and diversity implications

Proposals emanating from this work will seek to have a positive impact on equality and diversity issues within the Metropolitan Police Service. The diversity requirements will be specifically set out in the Code of Ethics, the substance misuse testing and the monitoring arrangements. The enforcement of behavioural and ethical standards will be complimentary to and supportive of the MPS Diversity Strategy.

D. Financial implications

It is expected that costs will be met within existing MPS Budgets directed by the MPS Professional Standards Strategic Committee, which is chaired by DAC Steve Roberts of the Directorate of Professional Standards. However, the cost implications relating to Substance Misuse Testing have not been fully scoped at this stage.

E. Background papers

• PSC Report of 19 December 2002. Professional Standards Strategy

F. Contact details

Report author: Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steve Roberts

For more information contact:

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

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