MPA Drugs Scrutiny - MPS strategies must be co-ordinated to tackle drug crime

51/06
01 September 2006

The Metropolitan Police authority is carrying out a scrutiny of the Metropolitan Police Service’s approach to policing drug crime in the capital. The Authority needs to be sure that the strategies and initiatives in operation are fully co-ordinated and delivering results for our communities.

The drugs scrutiny, anticipated to report next spring, will asses the current MPS position, develop an understanding of the scale of the problem facing the police, identify good practice and the partnership arrangements required with other agencies in order to improve the police response.

Richard Sumray, chair of the drugs scrutiny, said:

“Reducing drug crime has been an MPA target for a number of years. This scrutiny will enable us to investigate the MPS response to this difficult social problem in detail.

“We intend to improve the MPS’s ability to impact positively in this difficult area and its ability to reduce drug-related crime at a corporate level. Co-ordination and the development of a strategic approach are our ultimate goals.

“Drug-related crime is significant and has a huge impact on Londoners - families of users, victims of crime and the broader community suffer. Police strategies and interventions have a valuable role to play in minimising the effects, but can only be achieved in partnership with other agencies and there needs to be a clarification of the roles and responsibilities of those involved.

"We know that the MPS has previously developed a drug prevention strategy, but it is not clear to what extent this has been implemented. This, together with our understanding that police initiatives are in place across the capital in apparent isolation of each other, has encouraged us to scrutinise the MPS approach to drug crime in depth.”

Notes to editors

1. The MPA carries out an annual programme of scrutines in order to fulfil its duty to monitor the performance of the MPS and secure continuous improvement in the service provided to the people of London.

2. In March 2006 the MPA Co-ordination and Policing Committee approved the Authority’s scrutiny programme for 2006/07. This included a commitment to scrutinising the MPS approach to policing drugs.

3. MPA scrutiny membership: chair - Richard Sumray; panel members - Aneeta Prem, Elizabeth Howlett, Joanne McCartney, Rachel Whittaker, Damian Hockney and Richard Barnes.

4. The drug scrutiny will use a mix of research, written consultation and statement gathering from witnesses, engaging with those who have direct experience of problems, for example users, families and communities affected.

5. The objectives of the scrutiny are to:

• Ensure the MPS has a consistent and coherent strategic approach to combating drugs by undertaking an assessment of the current MPS position with regard to developing and implementing a drugs strategy, including the extent to which it brings together the different levels of drug-related crime This will include:
  • Clarifying the scale of the problem by looking at drug crime from level 1 including drug taking in communities and crack houses, level 2, including the middle market in relation to supply and distribution and level 3 including how MPS links to other organisations to tackle organised criminal networks.
  • Identifying the various approaches such as tackling the culprit rather than the commodity to assess the most effective approach in dealing with drug related criminal activity.
  • Identifying any gaps in the current approach to policing drugs that need to be addressed
  • Understanding the impact drugs have on Londoners and how the MPS can tackle this through policing
  • Understanding the role and function of the MPA, MPA link members and the MPS in delivering an effective MPS strategy to tackling drugs and drug related crime
• Ensure that the response of the directorates within the MPS to emerging intelligence and performance trends is appropriate. We will do this by:
  • Considering the types of performance targets and measures that would assist and drive the MPS to tackle drug related crime particularly in relation to use and supply.
  • Identifying examples of good practice and practical examples of how the approach taken by police can be improved, including understanding the impact that intervention has on people’s lives (users, victims, communities)
  • Identifying the intelligence requirements and capabilities within the MPS (and other agencies), and understanding how these are used in the fight against drugs
  • Reviewing the use of forensics in reducing drug crime and understanding key challenges facing the MPS.
• Ensure that the MPS relationship with other agencies (e.g. SOCA) that are active in this area are robust and that there is clarity in the roles and responsibilities of those agencies. We will do this by:
  • Identifying the partnership arrangements in place between the MPA, MPS and statutory partners to reduce demand and prevent drug related crime.
  • Establishing the role and function of CDRPs in tackling drug related crime in the local community
  • Clarifying the link between MPS and education services to undertake preventative work in relation to drugs
  • Identifying the role and impact of the criminal justice system and probation in tackling drug related crime including treatment and support programmes that are available such as, drug intervention programmes, drug treatment and testing orders.

Further media information

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