MPS Language Programme

Report: 7
Date: 5 November 2009
By: the Director of Human Resources on behalf of the Commissioner

Summary

On 18 June 2009, the Finance and Resources Committee noted the decision of the Service to put in place an integrated Language Programme solution and agreed £5.6m capital investments to support the Programme. This report provides members with an update on implementation

The Language Services Department and The Cultural & Community Resources Unit have been amalgamated into the Language Programme and will be re-branded Language & Cultural services. This amalgamation will remove any duplication of effort as the roles and responsibilities with the new department will be realigned.

Phase one of the Management Service Centre has delivered significant assistance to police officers and staff on front line duties by taking away from them the tasks of sourcing and deploying interpreters. In addition changes to the delivery of linguistic support to the MPS will result in reduced prisoner detention times by ensuring a rapid deployment and assignment of interpreters.

Waiting time at police stations for interpreters is reducing which will result in efficiencies as predicted.

A. Recommendations

1. That members note the progress made to date on the MPS Language Programme.

B. Supporting information

1. Resources

On the 1st of June the Cultural and Communities Resources Unit (CCRU) was officially transferred from Specialist Crime Directorate to the MPS Language Programme in Human Resources (Logistics). The CCRU is now amalgamated with the Language Services Department and will be titled Language and Cultural Services (LCS). Recruitment has commenced and it is anticipated that once complete LCS will be up to its full compliment of 23 staff for phase one of implementation. /p>

2. Management Service Centre

On 7 September 2009, phase one of the Management Service Centre opened in Empress State Building. The Centre is now dealing with all linguistic demand for seven major MPS boroughs between Monday and Friday 08:00 - 00:00 namely Brent, Camden, Ealing, Harrow, Lambeth, Newham and Westminster. The combined throughput of linguistic demand on these boroughs represents 40% of the total for the MPS.

At the date of submission of this report, the Centre has been in operation for a month (23 working days) and has dealt with over 780 linguistic tasks using nearly 200 different interpreters in 55 different languages, a number of them rare, for example Lingala, Twi and Mongolian. In over 80% of cases an interpreter has been assigned within 30mins of the request and 94% within one hour. At present the centre is open between Monday and Friday 08:00 - 00:00. It is planned to extend these hours to a 24/7 operation for the seven boroughs by mid November 2009. The next phase will encompass a further seven boroughs due to commence in January 2010.

3. Video Conferencing

A statement of requirements that would allow the procurement of video conferencing equipment is now complete. A technical architect has confirmed that the video conferencing system is best held over the internal MPS network AWARE once it has been upgraded to allow video traffic. This work will be complete in March 2010.

Prior to full rollout of video conferencing in March 2010 an operational pilot is planned on four MPS policing commands namely Ealing, Lambeth, Newham and Westminster. Ahead of the pilot it will be necessary to conduct trials to test the clarity and audibility of the video signal. This trial will take place, using existing video conferencing equipment at Wembley, Kilburn and Acton.

4. External Liaison

The Programme team has successfully engaged with the Ministry of Justice, the Legal Services Commission, the Law society, the Criminal Law Committee and the Crown Prosecution Service with a view to gaining wide acceptance on the principle of interpreter through video conferencing and remove any possible legal obstacles.

5. Language Training

The former Head of Language Training at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office is currently creating a comprehensive language programme for MPS officers and staff. This programme will not only assess current skills but will provide training needs analysis and courses leading an accreditation which is approved by the Institute of Linguists. This programme is anticipated to asses over 1000 officers and staff and provide progression courses at 3 levels in 40 key languages.

6. Own Staff

The Programme will build upon the good work undertaken by the Cultural & Communities Resource unit by assisting boroughs to create their own database of staff with language skills. It is also planned to simplify the process of registration and deployment. Software is currently being researched with DOI to commence this process.

C. Race and equality impact

The Language Programme will have significant impact upon the citizens of London. It will increase productivity in language delivery and enable front line officers to built trust in communities by enhancing lines of communication. The changes that will be implemented will produce a more professional and effective delivery of linguistic support.

D. Financial implications

1. This is a Service Improvement Plan project and is supported by £5.6m investment from the Service Improvement Fund as a revenue contribution to outlay.

2. As set out in the original Business Case capital budget of £5.6m was agreed for this programme at the Finance and Resources Committee of 18 June 2009. This programme had a history of overspending against budget. This investment will help avoid additional future unbudgeted costs of £17.5m which would have been incurred between 2009/10 to 2012/13 if this programme is not implemented.

E. Legal implications

There are no legal implications associated to this update paper

F. Background papers

• None

G. Contact details

Report author: Michael Brooker / John Care,MPS Language Programme

For more information contact:

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

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