Local Policing Summary: City of Westminster 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.

City of Westminster: local information

Message from Commander Steve Allen

“The City of Westminster is one of the most famous places in the world. It draws visitors from around the globe and every day, hundreds of thousands come to work in the heart of government, diplomacy, international commerce, renowned retail outlets and the entertainment industry. Nearly a quarter of a million people live in the City, representing over 50 nationalities and speaking 120 different languages.

“It is a privilege to police in such a diverse and exciting environment. From ensuring public safety and security during public and ceremonial events; to securing the capital against terrorist attack; to reducing crime and tackling anti-social behaviour, we work around the clock to make Westminster safe. We do so alongside Westminster City Council, listening and responding to those who live in our neighbourhoods, work in our businesses, visit our attractions or simply travel our streets. Our ambition is to make the City of Westminster safe for all.”

How did City of Westminster perform during 2007/08?

Offence	Up or down?	Number of offences	Percentage	Target
Robbery of personal property		135	-8.0%	Target achieved
Residential burglary		9	-0.6%	Target missed
Theft from vehicles		268	-7.5%	Target achieved
Theft or taking of vehicles		41	+5.6%	Target missed
Theft of pedal cycles		143	+11.2%	Target missed
BCS criminal damage		124	+4.1%	Target missed
BCS assaults		288	-11.5%	Target achieved
Gun enabled crime		45	+60.0%	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

• 10.3% reduction in youth violence, including similar reductions for theft of vehicles.
• Reductions in gun crime (5%) and knife crime (5.5%).
• 1% reduction in robbery and residential burglary.
• 4% reduction in theft from vehicles and 3.4% reduction in serious acquisitive crime.
• Challenging targets for sanction detection rates across specific crime types

City of Westminster: local police initiatives

The City of Westminster has 300,000 residents. Over 130 languages are spoken and nine world religions are represented in the borough. Recently a voluntary Borough Life Skills Database listing over 350 respondents offering one or more of the desired skill sets (knowledge of a particular faith group, culture or lifestyle, community; ability to speak a language(s) or experience of living with disability) was created. Its objective is to reduce current levels of language expenditure and improve ‘Public contact’.

Over 300 staff deployments have been recorded across the City of Westminster in 2008, a cost saving calculated to be in excess of £75,000. This represents a 7% overall saving on interpreter’s fees for the borough. To compliment the database, the Community Cohesion Team launched a programme of bespoke Cultural, Disability and Linguistic training for staff. Staff with linguistic skills successfully piloted a ‘language’ badge displayed on their clothing, visibly identifying an officer with language skills to a colleague or member of the public. 

MPS staff are involved in the language programme. The London Criminal Justice Board and the Crown Prosecution Service acknowledged the provision of a service that improves public trust and confidence and delivers quality policing as a priority. Representatives from the boroughs Muslim, Jewish, Deaf and Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender communities have publicly acknowledged the benefits of a care service that is tailored to the cultural and social needs of the user.

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.

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