Local Policing Summary: Brent 2007-08

People across London want more information about policing in their local area.

In particular you want to know how policing is delivered locally, how the police are performing and what the priorities for the police are, together with information about your local officers and how to contact them.

This local policing summary aims to do just that. By providing detailed information for each borough, the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) aims to keep you more informed about trends and developments in your area, and reassure you that we, and your local police, listen to what you tell us about the problems in your community.

Working in partnership to reduce crime

This annual local policing summary is produced by the MPA. Made up of 23 members who scrutinise and support the work of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), our role is to ensure that the views of Londoners are taken into account when deciding policing priorities and that London has the best possible police service to protect our communities.

Although the Authority does not have any responsibility for operational policing, it is responsible for monitoring how well those services are delivered.

It is the Authority’s job to ensure the Metropolitan Police perform to the best of their ability and are accountable to the people of London. The MPA also works to make sure local communities have a say in how they are policed.

Crime is at a ten year low in London

Primarily, the MPA exists to

• hold the Commissioner rigorously to account for improving the operational performance of the MPS
• transform community engagement to help Londoners secure more responsive policing
• work with the MPS to achieve cultural change throughout the service so that everyone in London can gain and retain confidence in policing
• drive the MPS to make the most effective, efficient and cost conscious use of all its resources

Metropolitan Police Authority

The MPA sets and monitors the police budget, which includes agreeing the level of council tax that you pay towards policing, and appoints senior officers to the MPS.

The MPA also sets annual priorities and targets for the police and we hold them to account for their performance against these.

The Authority has achieved real benefits for the people of London. We now have record numbers of police officers – over 31,000 - working to keep the capital safe, and London was first to introduce Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), with over 4,000 now providing extra public reassurance and tackling anti-social behaviour in every ward across London.

Please contact the MPA if you would like more information about the ways in which the MPA works or would like to make any comments.

Looking back on 2007/08

Summary performance achievements

The MPS has achieved a number of successes against the objectives and targets set for 2007/08. The majority of the priorities and targets set by the MPA were met, particularly in terms of sanction detections, criminal justice and terrorism.

Some of the performance achievements between April 2007 and March 2008 are:

• the overall sanction detection [1] rate reached 25.1% against a 24% target. The MPS continues to show increases year on year;
• the MPS exceeded its target for offences brought to justice (OBTJ) obtaining 209,107 against a target of 197,200;
• the MPS achieved a reduction of 8.8% for recorded crimes that compare to those surveyed by the British Crime Survey (BCS). This exceeded the reduction target of 5.5%.

However, some targets were not met, most notably:

• gun enabled crime decreased by 1.4% against a 5% reduction target;
• public satisfaction across the MPS was 77% against a 82.5% target; 
• the gap between the satisfaction of White victims (78.8%) and Black and Minority Ethnic victims (71.8%) was 7 percentage points. This missed the target of a 5.3 percentage point gap. 

Setting policing priorities for London

Policing London Business Plan 2008/11

The three year business plan sets out how the MPS will deliver against the policing priorities of government, the Mayor of London and the people who live and work in London. Targets are set and monitored throughout the year to ensure the MPS continues to reduce crime and increase public safety. 

The strategic priorities in the plan are to:

• Make our services more accessible and improve people’s experience of their contact with us.
• Make our neighbourhoods safer through local and citywide problem solving and partnership working to reduce crime, anti-social behaviour and road casualties.
• Enhance our counter terrorism capacity and capability.
• Plan for, and effectively police, major events in London and prepare for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
• Reduce serious violence and protect young people.
• Disrupt criminal networks and reduce the harm caused by drugs.

Have your say on policing in London

Public consultation plays an important part in setting the policing priorities for London.

The MPA is considering the priorities for 2010/11 and would like to know what you think the police in London should be focusing on.

Have your say on policing in London by taking part in this year’s consultation questionnaire.

Brent: local information

Message from Borough Commander Mark Toland

“Brent achieved its three-year Home Office crime reduction target of 20% and crime in Brent is now at its lowest level for five years. Last year overall crime was reduced by 2,348 offences and we had 7,000 less victims of crime.

“Brent is an Operation Trident borough and there were no gun-related fatalities last year. Reducing violent crime remains a priority for the borough and there is some excellent partnership activity to tackle knife crime, domestic violence, and gun crime.

“Brent police are taking a tough stance on those willing to carry weapons. We are carrying out operations to deter people and anyone found in possession of a dangerous article will be placed before the courts.

"Finally, Brent police are very keen to offer the best possible service to residents and we are now contacting people who have come into contact with us to check we gave a first class service“

How did Brent perform during 2007/08?

Offence	Up or down?	Number of offences	Percentage	Target
Robbery of personal property		6	-0.3%	Target missed
Residential burglary		264	+11.5%	Target missed
Theft from vehicles		432	-12.9%	Target achieved
Theft or taking of vehicles		230	-18%	Target achieved
Theft of pedal cycles		46	+17.8%	Target missed
BCS criminal damage		387	-11.8%	Target missed
BCS total		1270	-6.9%	Target achieved
Gun enabled crime		8	-4.6%	Target missed

Looking forward

Borough priorities are set through consultation with the public (Safer Neighbourhoods events, ‘Have your say’ public survey), the police, and other agencies involved in crime reduction in your area.

Priorities for 2008/09

• 5% reduction in youth violence, knife crime and gun crime
• 2.5% reduction in residential burglary and similar reduction in serious acquisitive crime
• 3.3% reduction in robbery
• 1% reduction in theft of vehicles and 1.6% reduction in theft from vehicles
• challenging targets for sanction detection rates across specific crime types

Brent: local police initiatives

The Brent Police Taskforce was recently launched to focus on drugs and firearms intelligence. In particular this unit will focus on information received through Crimestoppers and other sources. Since the development of the taskforce there have been a number of successful operations.

The taskforce executed a warrant at an address in Wembley on the 3 September 2008 and recovered three firearms and ammunition together with a substantial amount of Class A drugs. A 19-year-old has been charged for these offences.

On the 8 September 2008 a mum and dad contacted police after they discovered an Uzi sub-machine gun wrapped in a bin liner in their son’s bedroom. The 18-year-old male from Harlesden has since been charged with possession of ammunition and possession of an imitation firearm.

Finally on the 9 September 2008 the team executed a search warrant at an address in Harlesden after receiving anonymous information via Crimestoppers. A stun gun, six imitation firearms and 20 combat knives were seized and a 19-year-old male was arrested.

Brent Police Taskforce hope these results will encourage residents to talk to local police or anonymously to Crimestoppers so that the police and Brent residents can continue to work together to end gun crime in Brent.

Partnership working: getting involved

Help us to understand the community’s views on policing in your area

The MPA has a statutory duty to consult and engage with the communities of London and to give a voice to local people on policing, priorities, concerns and the future direction of the MPS. Therefore the MPA has established Community Police Engagement Groups (CPEGs) in each of the 32 London boroughs (in some London boroughs these groups are known as Community Safety Boards (CSBs) or Community Police Consultative Groups (CPCGs)). The primary aims of the CPEGs are to consult with their local police, Safer Neighbourhoods Panels, the MPA and key stakeholders in Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships about strategic policing, including consultation on the annual policing plan development, implementation of Neighbourhood Policing, and crime and disorder reduction.

CPEGs are intended to be representative of the local population, and more particularly those groups that interact with the police in disproportionate numbers. Their activities are not limited to committee work but include active community engagement in neighbourhoods and with local groups.

• Get involved in your local CPEG

Independent Custody Visitors

Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) are ordinary members of the local community appointed to make sure that the welfare of people detained in police stations is maintained. They call at police stations unannounced, speak to detainees and write short reports about their visit. Their recommendations can require the police to make improvements in this area.

ICVs play a valuable role in maintaining public confidence in this important aspect of policing. They work with others as part of a local panel and help the MPA, which oversees custody visiting in London, to make sure that detainees are treated appropriately and that their rights are respected.

ICVs must be aged 18 or over. If you would like to find out more about how you can get involved, please visit MPA ICV recruitment or call freephone 0808 100 1036.

The MPA Stop and Search Community Monitoring Network (CMN)

Stop and Search measures are useful in the fight against crime, but they are also controversial powers for many people. The MPA supports Stop and Search Monitoring groups in all 32 boroughs and facilitates a London wide CMN as a means of building and sustaining trust and confidence in the appropriate exercise of Stop and Search powers. 

The work of these groups is crucial and they rely on the input and involvement of volunteers. If you would like to get involved in a local or pan-London group to monitor and influence the way Stop and Search is used in London, please call 020 7202 0233 or email stopandsearch@mpa.gov.uk  for more information. 

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback