Contents
Report 8 of the 18 May 2006 meeting of the Professional Standards & Complaints Committee and provides a brief update on the application of the Case Management Protocol.
Warning: This is archived material and may be out of date. The Metropolitan Police Authority has been replaced by the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPC).
See the MOPC website for further information.
Case Management Protocol update
Report: 8
Date: 18 May 2006
By: Chief Executive and Clerk
Summary
The purpose of this report is to provide a brief update on the application of the Case Management Protocol. The Protocol was approved at the Professional Standards and Complaints Committee (PSCC) meeting on 8 September 2005 in response to recommendations made be the Morris Inquiry. Its purpose is to provide an effective framework for oversight of the complaints investigation process and discipline matters in the MPS.
A. Recommendations
That Members receive the report and note the difficulties experienced to date in implementing the Protocol.
B. Supporting information
1. At its meeting on 12 January 2006, the PSCC received a report confirming that as a consequence of the unreliability of MPS case management data, effective operation of the Case Management Protocol had been undermined.
2. In response, the Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) agreed to undertake some remedial action to ensure the accuracy of its case management records, which would then enable the MPA to fully implement the protocol and identify ‘live’ overt complaints investigations appropriate for independent oversight [1].
3. On 17 February 2006, the MPA selected six cases, which appeared on the Investigating Officer Workload Analysis Report (IOWA) as live investigations that had reached the 120 days age profile. For each case identified, DPS was asked to complete a Case Review Statement in which the following information would be provided (a) reasons why the investigation had exceeded the target time frame, (b) an estimated completion time, (c) a description of the steps taken to ensure that the investigation is proportionate.
4. A DPS response was received by the MPA on 21 April 2006. For each of the six cases identified, the MPA was advised that at the time of reporting the cases had in fact been concluded. DPS reported that four of the complaints had been resolved under the local resolution procedures and two had concluded on the basis that the complainants had withdrawn their allegations. Case Review Statements were not submitted for any of the six cases.
5. The operation of the Case Management Protocol has therefore once again identified inaccuracies within the MPS’ case management information. By way of further explanation, two of the cases which had been selected for scrutiny under the Case Management Protocol were showing on IOWA as ‘live’ 120 days’ old investigations, however, the MPA was subsequently advised that the investigations had in fact been finalised well within the target time frame i.e. 50 and 80 days respectively.
6. The MPA is aware that DPS has recently advised officers and staff members of the importance of ensuring that case management records are regularly updated to reflect the stages of an investigation through to completion.
7. In view of the fact that general housekeeping issues appear now to have been addressed, the MPA intends to submit a further request for information in respect of an additional selection of complaints currently under investigation with an age profile of 120 days or more. The selection of live cases will include cases under investigation across each of the Internal Investigation Commands including Specialist Investigations. Details of those cases will be referred for scrutiny by members.
8. Details of covert investigations [2] will not be requested under the Case Management Protocol. However, at the next PSCC meeting on 13 July 2006, the Head of DPS Investigations Command will provide details of the mechanisms in place to ensure that covert operations are properly monitored and reviewed.
C. Race and equality impact
1. The purpose of the protocol is to ensure that individuals who are the subject of an investigation are treated in an equitable and proportionate manner. The protocol reflects a recommendation of the Morris Inquiry and is therefore a product of a consultative process.
2. An initial Race Equalities Impact Assessment has been conducted to ensure that the protocol promotes equalities and does not disadvantage any of the equality target groups.
D. Financial implications
There are no financial implications arising directly from administration of the case management protocol. Introduction and administration of the procedure has been built around the MPS’s existing management information. Although the arrangement will, when fully operational, increase the time spent by Members and MPA officers in undertaking their oversight role, the cost of administering the procedure is capable of being met from the existing budget.
E. Background papers
None provided.
F. Contact details
Report author(s): Claire L Lister, MPA.
For more information contact:
MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18
Footnotes
1. Independent oversight of the complaints investigation process and discipline matters builds on the recommendations of the Lancet Review (refer to MPA Briefing Papers 032005) one of which concerned the implementation of a review procedure for complaint investigation cases. [Back]
2. The Morris Inquiry recommended that the MPA’s consideration of cases under the proposed case management model would begin after 90 days unless the investigation is still covert. The Inquiry team considered that arrangements for the review of covert investigations were already provided for (para 7.76 “In covert investigations, there is already provision for review of surveillance authorities” and para 7.77 “After a covert investigation has run for three months, a chief officer from another force should review the case and he or she will have the delegated authority to stop the investigation”. [Back]
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