Andrew Dismore

Borough Command Mergers

Question No: 2016/2366

Andrew Dismore

What is happening re the merger of borough command units?

Written answer from the Mayor

Restoring real neighbourhood policing is my top priority for the MPS. I want people to know their local officer, to build the trust of communities and for people to have the confidence to report crime to the police.

 

How we structure the police around this needs to be the best fit to deliver this vision.

 

My Deputy Mayor for Policing And Crime, Sophie Linden, is considering all proposals carefully. Any changes to borough policing will need to be included in the Police and Crime Plan and will be consulted about extensively.

 

Neighbourhood Policing

Question No: 2016/2369

Andrew Dismore

Of what does ‘real’ neighbourhood policing consist?

Written answer from the Mayor

As I said in my manifesto, I want to restore real neighbourhood policing. This is about how the police work and engage with local people and communities.

 

Trust and confidence are the cornerstones of the police’s legitimacy in the eyes of the community – and the basis on which members of the public feel comfortable in coming forward with evidence and intelligence.

 

So I will ensure that building trust across London, with all communities, and the increasing visibility of police officers are core priorities for the Met over the coming year and will form a central point of my Police and Crime Plan.

 

Westminster Council CCTV

Question No: 2016/2371

Andrew Dismore

Westminster Council has decided to switch off their CCTV systems, including in the West End, to cut costs. What is your view about the impact of this on crime fighting, including counter terrorism; and what will you do about it?

Written answer from the Mayor

I have had very positive, ongoing conversations with Westminster City Council to support them and the MPS work together to find a solution that means neither agency are burdened with additional costs.

 

CCTV is an important tool for crime reduction investigation and I am highly supportive of it when used as part of a full strategy.

 

Boroughs across London have invested heavily in CCTV over previous years and this gives the public reassurance as well as assisting the police and other agencies in delivering enforcement.

 

Cameras can help with assuring convictions and keeping people safe, and this includes not just Local Authority CCTV but also privately owned cameras, individual recording on phones and my commitment for police officers to wear Body Worn Video.

 

We know the systems can be expensive, both in terms of capital to keep the equipment up to standard and revenue costs for monitoring

 

I understand the Westminster’s report recommended a decision to stop full time monitoring of the cameras, not to ‘turn them off’ and we must be clear on the difference.

 

Helpfully, Westminster CC have identified some capital funding to assist in any move of the live feed to MPS housed control rooms.

 

Grahame Park: to commissioner

Question No: 2016/2383

Andrew Dismore

At your roadshow in Barnet in February, you promised to visit the Grahame Park estate: have you been yet?

Written answer from the Mayor

A visit is already planned for the Commissioner to visit the Grahame Park Estate later this summer.

 

Police Community Support Officers: to commissioner

Question No: 2016/2384

Andrew Dismore

When you talk in public about PCSOs, you refer to them as CSOs, rather than PCSOs: why?

Written answer from the Mayor

At the last three PCC meetings he has attended, the Commissioner has used the term ‘PCSO’. If and when the Commissioner has used the term ‘CSO’ it has been a reference to the same thing.  The terms are interchangeable.

 

Aircraft

Question No: 2016/2385

Andrew Dismore

How many aircraft does the Metropolitan Police use, including helicopters, fixed wing and drones; how many of those are a) owned b) leased and c) used under other arrangements; and what is the annual cost of operating each of these categories of aircraft?

Written answer from the Mayor

London’s use of Police Helicopters is now under the control of the National Police Air Service (NPAS) who provide a national, borderless service making use of the nearest aircraft.

 

MOPAC and the MPS have worked with the NPAS to develop the assurances necessary to ensure an effective service for Londoners. MOPAC’s contribution to the NPAS for 2016/17 is £6.185 million

 

 

 

 

 

Contact points

Question No: 2016/2386

Andrew Dismore

Do you consider contact points to have been a success; and if not what do you propose to do about them?

Written answer from the Mayor

As I said in my manifesto, neighbourhood policing is a priority for me and access to the police for the public is an important part of this. This will include consideration of all forms of public access including contact points.

 

As part of my Police and Crime Plan, I will be considering how local engagement and accountability takes place to ensure that when the public need the police they can contact them as quickly as possible using an easy process. The plan will be developed following an extensive consultation, where Londoners will have the opportunity to make their voices heard.

 

Safer Neighbourhood Boards and Panels

Question No: 2016/2387

Andrew Dismore

Do  you agree that the performance of these has been patchy across London: what will you do to spread good practice; and what are your plans to improve their performance  generally and to make them more representative of Londoners?

Written answer from the Mayor

I have put on record that I commend borough partners who are active in their Safer Neighbourhood Boards, and their innovative crime prevention projects, and I have acknowledged that there may be variations in delivery at the local level.

 

As part of my Police and Crime Plan, I will be considering how local engagement and accountability takes place, including the role of Safer Neighbourhood Boards and panels. It will be important to ensure that the experience and views of members of those forms are fed into the plan.

 

My Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime has great experience of working with communities and I will be working with her to see what can be put in place to secure even wider public representation in local accountability.

 

The Police and Crime Plan will be developed following extensive consultation where all Londoners will have the opportunity to make their views known.

 

Sergeants

Question No: 2016/2388

Andrew Dismore

What do you consider the optimum number of officers and PCSOs sergeants should supervise?

Written answer from the Mayor

My Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime has begun work on developing a new Police and Crime Plan.

 

In any individual role, the number of supervisors needed will likely vary according to the complexity of the role and a range of other factors

Special Constables

Question No: 2016/2389

Andrew Dismore

What are you doing to encourage more special constables to join the Met, and to retain those the Met has already?

Written answer from the Mayor

A review of the Metropolitan Special Constabulary (MSC) has recently been completed.

 

Following the review, recommendations are being considered on recruitment, retention and the effective use of the MSC. There will also be consideration of a new, streamlined, senior leadership team for the MSC, ensuring more effective management of resources.

 

Safer Neighbourhood Panels

Question No: 2016/2390

Andrew Dismore

Are you satisfied with the Safer Neighbourhood Panel and Board arrangements as an effective way to engage the public?

Written answer from the Mayor

Please see my answer to 2016 / 2387.

 

Appointing an Independent Victims’ Commissioner

Question No: 2016/2391

Andrew Dismore

What progress is being made towards the appointment of the independent Victims’ Commissioner?

Written answer from the Mayor

My Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime and I are currently considering the requirements of the role and I will be announcing the appointment in due course.

 

Body worn cameras [1]

Question No: 2016/2392

Andrew Dismore

When will body worn cameras be rolled out to every officer in contact with the public?

Written answer from the Mayor

The Commissioner and I are committed to the roll out of body worn cameras to all front line police officers.

 

It is now anticipated that the roll out will start over the next few months. This will be completed in phases with anticipated completion achieved by June 2017. A total of 22,000 cameras are being issued in total.

 

Body worn cameras [2]

Question No: 2016/2393

Andrew Dismore

What progress is being made towards providing workable body worn cameras for firearms officers?

Written answer from the Mayor

There is a strong commitment to the roll out of body worn cameras to all firearms officers.

 

However, the actual method and technology to achieve this, so that meaningful imagery is captured, is challenging.

 

The MPS are involved in a national pilot looking at various cameras and options for mounting the cameras. The project is working with the industry on developing new solutions.

 

Notwithstanding this work, all uniformed firearms officers do carry and use body worn cameras at the moment.

 

Water cannons

Question No: 2016/2394

Andrew Dismore

When will you dispose of the water cannons?

Written answer from the Mayor

In my manifesto, I committed to sell the water cannon and I am currently considering the available options.

 

Burglary in Barnet

Question No: 2016/2395

Andrew Dismore

What are you doing to bear down on burglary in Barnet?

Written answer from the Mayor

In the year to June 2016 there were a total of 3,757 burglary offences in Barnet borough, representing a decrease of over a fifth on the levels recorded in the year to June 2012.

 

The MPS will be issuing 15,921 Met Trace property marking kits to residents in Barnet this year. Borough officers have been trained and issued with Ultra Violet torches to identify marked property during stop and search on the street, home address searches of suspects following arrest and on search warrants of premises.

 

Local police will also be running “Clocks, Locks and Lights”, an awareness and prevention campaign in the autumn, aligned to the seasonal rise seen in burglary offending. The borough will also prioritise patrols in burglary hot spots, particularly for Safer Neighbourhood Officers, during this peak period

 

Rank structures

Question No: 2016/2396

Andrew Dismore

What is happening re the changes in rank structures with reference to taking out levels of rank?

Written answer from the Mayor

The MPS is considering a number of proposals for streamlining management. These include some options for effectively removing one or two ranks.  No decisions have been made yet.

 

 

Police officer retention

Question No: 2016/2397

Andrew Dismore

What is being done to improve career progression and officer retention, with particular reference to a likely  reduction in sergeants and inspector/ chief inspector ranks?

Written answer from the Mayor

There have been opportunities for promotion across all ranks in 2015 and 2016. Further opportunities for development have been provided by the planned increases to firearms officers and detectives.

 

The Met is in the early stages of developing a new career development ‘app’. This will enable officers and staff to access career development opportunities, personal development plans, mentoring and preparation guidance for promotion.

 

 

Diversity in the MET

Question No: 2016/2398

Andrew Dismore

What are you doing to improve diversity in the Met?

Written answer from the Mayor

Please see my oral answer to plenary question 2016 /2404

 

Graffiti [1]

Question No: 2016/2399

Andrew Dismore

What are you doing to reduce graffitiing?

Written answer from the Mayor

I am determined that the MPS should know about and act upon community concerns about issues such as graffiti that can have a real impact on quality of life and sense of safety. That is why I am pushing for real neighbourhood policing, with officers and PCSOs visible to communities, connected to the needs and wishes of the residents they serve and working together with councils and other agencies to make sure issues like this are resolved promptly and effectively

 

Graffiti [2]

Question No: 2016/2400

Andrew Dismore

Are all councils reporting graffiti to the police to help build up a picture of graffiti hotspots?

How much are police acting on that intelligence?

Written answer from the Mayor

Please see my response to MQ 2016 /2399