Andrew Dismore

You can also see answers from the Mayor from September here.

Children under 18 in police cells

Question No: 2015/3509

Andrew Dismore

Over the last 6 months, how many children under 18 have been held  a) overnight and b) over a weekend in police cells?

Written response from the Mayor

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly. 

Dangerous Dogs (1)

Question No: 2015/3510

Andrew Dismore

How many dogs were held in kennels by the Met in the last 12 months?

Written response from the Mayor

The MPS record data on dog seizures by financial year. The data provided is the most recent data based on the first 6 months of the current financial year which is readily available.

Between 1st April and 30th September the MPS seized 556 dogs.

Dangerous Dogs (2)

Question No: 2015/3511

Andrew Dismore

How many of those dogs held in kennels by the Met in the last 12 months were returned to their owners?

Written response from the Mayor

Between 1st April and 30th September the MPS returned 366 dogs to their owners. 40 dogs were re-homed to charities after either a Court Ordered Deprivation or Safe Guarding intervention identified an unsuitable owner.

Dangerous Dogs (3)

Question No: 2015/3512

Andrew Dismore

How many of those dogs held in kennels by the Met in the last 12 months were destroyed with the consent  of the owners

Written response from the Mayor

Between 1st April and 30th September the MPS destroyed 65 dogs after disclaimers were received.

Dangerous Dogs (4)

Question No: 2015/3513

Andrew Dismore

How many of those dogs held in kennels by the Met in the last 12 months were ordered to be destroyed by a court?

Written response from the Mayor

The MPS records data on dog seizures by financial year timescales. The data provided is the most recent data based on the first 6 months of the current financial year which is readily available.

Between 1st April and 30th September the MPS destroyed 42 dogs on the order of a Court.

Dangerous Dogs (5)

Question No: 2015/3514

Andrew Dismore

What was the cost of destroying and other vet fees relating to dogs held in kennels by the Met in the last 12 months?

Written response from the Mayor

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

Dangerous Dogs (6)

Question No: 2015/3515

Andrew Dismore

How much was recovered from owners of the dogs held in kennels by the Met in the last 12 months?

Written response from the Mayor

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

Dangerous Dogs (7)

Question No: 2015/3516

Andrew Dismore

In what circumstances is the Met legally entitled to recover costs of kenneling dangerous from dogs’ owners?

Written response from the Mayor

While the CPS can make an application for reasonable costs incurred in bringing the prosecution, or for the costs in retaining a dog pending its destruction, any award made by a Court is subject to the discretion of the Justices.

Knife crime (1)

Question No: 2015/3517

Andrew Dismore

How many incidents of knife crime have there been in Barnet over the last 6 months; and what were the comparative figures for the same period last year?

Written response from the Mayor

There were 184 knife crime offences in Barnet in the last 6 months (April to September 2015) compared to 121 similar offences in the same period the previous year (April to September 2014).

The change to recording of violent crime may have had an effect on recorded violent crime that has been flagged as knife crime.

Knife crime (2)

Question No: 2015/3518

Andrew Dismore

How many incidents of knife crime have there been in Camden over the last 6 months; and what were the comparative figures for the same period last year?

Written response from the Mayor

There were 163 knife crime offences in Camden in the last 6 months (April to September 2015) compared to 120 similar offences in the same period the previous year (April to September 2014).

The change to recording of violent crime may have had an effect on recorded violent crime that has been flagged as knife crime.

Islamophobic crime (1)

Question No: 2015/3519

Andrew Dismore

How many incidents of Islamophobic crime have there been in Barnet over the last 6 months; and what were the comparative figures for the same period last year?

Written response from the Mayor

Please find below the number of Islamophobic offences in Barnet for April 15- September 15, and also for the same 6 months in 2014.

	April 14-Sept 14	April 15- Sept 15
Barnet	7	9

It is never acceptable for people in London to face an attack on the basis of their faith. Tackling Hate Crime is a key priority and last year I launched my Hate Crime Reduction Strategy. I am always extremely concerned about incidents of hate crime and I am watching this issue closely. It is also important that people feel confident to report all incidents of hate crime when they occur.

I welcome the Prime Minister’s recent announcement that all Islamophobic hate crimes will now be recorded in a separate category across all force areas.

Islamophobic crime (2)

Question No: 2015/3520

Andrew Dismore

How many incidents of Islamophobic crime have there been in Camden over the last 6 months; and what were the comparative figures for the same period last year?

Written response from the Mayor

Please find below the number of Islamophobic offences in Camden for April 15- September 15, and also for the same 6 months in 2014.

	April 14-Sept 14	April 15- Sept 15
Camden	23	15

It is never acceptable for people in London to face an attack on the basis of their faith. Tackling hate Crime is a key priority and last year I launched my Hate Crime Reduction Strategy. I am always extremely concerned about incidents of hate crime and I am watching this issue closely. It is also important that people feel confident to report all incidents of hate crime when they occur.

I welcome the Prime Minister’s recent announcement that all Islamophobic hate crimes will now be recorded in a separate category across all force areas.

PCSOs (1)

Question No: 2015/3521

Andrew Dismore

How many PCSOs posts in Barnet are in jeopardy due to funding cuts?

Written response from the Mayor

It is likely that the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) will face an extremely challenging budget situation. However, neither the police funding formula proposals nor the Spending Review have been agreed and finalised and therefore no decisions have yet been made.

PCSOs (2)

Question No: 2015/3522

Andrew Dismore

How many PCSOs posts in Camden are in jeopardy due to funding cuts?

Written response from the Mayor

Please see MQ 3521 / 2015.

Chief Inspectors (1)

Question No: 2015/3523

Andrew Dismore

How many Chief Inspectors posts in Barnet are in jeopardy due to funding cuts?

Written response from the Mayor

It is likely that the MPS will face an extremely challenging budget situation. However, neither the police funding formula proposals nor the Spending Review have been agreed and finalised and therefore no decisions have yet been made on savings.

Chief Inspectors (2)

Question No: 2015/3524

Andrew Dismore

How many Chief Inspectors posts in Camden are in jeopardy due to funding cuts?

Written response from the Mayor

It is likely that the MPS will face an extremely challenging budget situation. However, neither the police funding formula proposals nor the Spending Review have been agreed and finalised and therefore no decisions have yet been made on savings.

 

Merging BCUs

Question No: 2015/3525

Andrew Dismore

Which Police Borough commands are under consideration for merger due to funding cuts?

Written response from the Mayor

As part of the work the MPS are undertaking in response to the proposed reductions in funding, they are exploring all options to meet the funding challenge. No decisions have been taken.

Police Buildings

Question No: 2015/3526

Andrew Dismore

Which police buildings are being considered for disposal due to funding cuts?

Written response from the Mayor

MOPAC continues to deliver its approved Estates Strategy for 2013 – 2016.

ShomrinQuestion No: 2015/2843 Andrew Dismore Do you agree with the Commissioner of Police’s reported comments at the Chief Rabbi’s conference, that Shomrin’s volunteers and vehicles look to much like police officers and cars; if so, what action do you propose to take; and if not will you disassociate yourself from the Commissioner’s views? Written response from the Mayor I am a great supporter of Shomrim and they do an outstanding job in protecting their community. However, no one should imitate a police officer or police vehicle as this can cause confusion. I am sure that the Commissioner and Shomrim will be able to resolve any misunderstandings.

Proscribed terrorist organisationsQuestion No: 2015/3508 Andrew Dismore At the demonstration against the visit of Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, held outside Downing Street on Wednesday 9 September, some protesters were  flying the flags of the proscribed terrorist organisations Hamas and Hezbollah. Hezbollah and Hamas’ military wings are proscribed by the UK as terror organisations. What action has the Metropolitan Police taken over this? Written response from the Mayor The right to peaceful protest is a part of our constitution. However we should not have people supporting terrorism and terrorist organisations on the streets of London, and following an earlier incident in Parliament Square concerns were raised with the Police.  On this occasion I am informed that the Hezbollah flag was seen to be flown. The display of this flag alone does not constitute an offence unless it is combined with other actions such as chanting.  Officers actively sought this additional evidence, but there was none.  However, the Police recognised the concern this flag might cause and directed the flags be put away to prevent any disorder. I am aware that video of the protest has been reviewed.  The only chanting recorded was, “Free Palestine”. The Office of Security & Counter Terrorism (CT) and the CT Section of the Crown Prosecution Service were consulted, and concurred that no offences had been committed. Had there been evidence I am confident that the MPS would take action where offences are committed.

 

Metropolitan Police services

Question No: 2015/3545

Andrew Dismore

What Metropolitan Police services are under consideration for privatisation?

Written response from the Mayor

The Commercial Strategy supports the delivery of the medium term financial strategy.  This will see MPS exploring a number of commercial approaches to ensure that back and middle office services are being operated in an as effective and economic way as possible and is currently made up of the following areas:

Corporate Real Estate – This is an outsourced service

Transport – This is an outsourced service

Business Support Services – payroll and pensions has previously been outsourced, and in October 2015 Finance, HR and Procurement transactional functions were outsourced to SSCL.

Logistics – the National Managed Uniform Service is currently at contract award stage, and will be implemented from April 2016.  Other logistical services are currently in the process of being scoped or are at various business case stages;

ICT Services – This is an outsourced service.

Command and Control – This is a contract for the Command and Control system, it is not an outsourced service.

Criminal Justice – This is currently being scoped and consists of a number of administrative and IT areas supporting prosecutions.

Policing Fraud

Question No: 2015/3546

Andrew Dismore

Are you satisfied with the performance of the Metropolitan Police in dealing with fraud?

Written response from the Mayor

I identified fraud as a priority in my business crime strategy, creating the Business Crime Change Board to drive forward improvement in the response to online fraud and increasing the Met’s capability to deal with fraud.

A significant investment has been made creating FALCON, providing the necessary expertise to investigate all reported cases where there are viable lines of enquiry. Recent evidence shows performance rates increasing with 814 arrests made and £1.1m in cash seized or confiscated.

I am also pleased that with the recent launch of the London Digital Security Centre, small and medium sized businesses can seek help to protect themselves against cyber risks and threats including frauds.

This is no time to be complacent and I look forward to further improvements in both enforcement and prevention over the coming years.