Policing and crime update from City Hall, July 2016
This is my first policing and crime report from City Hall since the elections.
I am pleased to say that I have been reappointed to the Police and Crime Committee.
The Mayor has chosen Sophie Linden as his Deputy Mayor for policing. Here is a link to her confirmation hearing:
In the first public Q&A session with the Police and Crime Committee, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Sophie Linden and Deputy Commissioner Craig Mackey QPM answered questions on the following topics:
· borough mergers
· Operation Viper – led by the Met’s Trident and Gang Command to tackle gun crime
· Westminster’s decision to switch off its CCTV
· Mayor’s manifesto commitment for a review of London’s preparedness to a major terrorist incident
· Moped and motorbike enabled crime
For technical reasons there wasn’t a complete video of the session, but the draft transcript from the meeting of the Police and Crime Committee has been published on the GLA’s website:
https://www.london.gov.uk/moderngov/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=240&MId=6054&Ver=4
We have just had a full Assembly Plenary session with the Mayor and the Police Commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan Howe . As you might expect, the session was dominated by the policing and security aspects of Brexit : I particularly focussed on the surge in hate crime: video link : https://vimeo.com/173932579
For the full session:
https://www.london.gov.uk/london-assembly-plenary-2016-07-06
You may also be interested in knowing the Islamophobic and Anti-Semitic hate crime stats from the MPS. They are for a rolling 12 months compared to the same time period last year. Anti-Semitic Hate crime reported to the MPS has gone down slightly whereas Islamophobic hate crime reported to the MPS has gone up:
|
12 months to |
No. offences |
|
|
Anti-semitic |
01/07/2015 |
503 |
|
|
04/07/2016 |
419 |
|
|
Difference |
-84 |
|
|
|
|
|
Islamaphobic |
04/07/2015 |
816 |
|
|
04/07/2016 |
1166 |
|
|
Difference |
350 |
|
|
|
|
|
Faith hate |
04/07/2015 |
1499 |
|
|
04/07/2016 |
1822 |
|
|
Difference |
323 |
I raised a series of written police questions at the plenary:
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
Finally, also I raised a series of the usual type of questions for the first Mayor’s Question Time ( and as usual still await many response from MOPAC!)
Westminster CCTV
Question No: 2016/2116
Andrew Dismore
What assessment of the impact have you made and what representations are you making to Westminster City Council, over their decision to switch off all their CCTV systems, including for the West End and central London?
The report can be found via the online agenda for Cabinet, item 6 (http://committees.westminster.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=130&MId=3943).
Written response from the Mayor
I am concerned over this issue and have discussed this at my regular meetings with the Commissioner.
I understand that the Westminster City Council decision was to end their contract with G4S who currently undertake the monitoring of the CCTV in the borough. The report helpfully references some capital funding which remains available to support innovative solutions.
The MPS were in touch with the City Council prior to the decision being taken and have offered to assist with relocation of where the feed from the CCTV is viewed and to work with Westminster on solutions which might allow for continued coverage on a basis which, whilst recognising WCC cost pressures, did not significantly add to those of the MPS. I am pleased that those discussions are continuing.
Police expenditure on a ‘guru’
Question No: 2016/2117
Andrew Dismore
At a time of pressure on the Metropolitan Police budget, was it a wise investment under the previous mayor to spend £40,000 on a ‘guru’ to promote their austerity to their own officers?
Written response from the Mayor
The MPS is having to change its culture and the way in which it works. I understand that the engagement was part of a programme of communication and change intended to influence the thinking of all of the leaders in this organisation of some 40,000 people.
My role is to provide strategic oversight of the budget and whilst I require the MPS to use their funds efficiently and effectively, and will continue to reinforce this message; decisions about events of this sort are primarily a matter for the Commissioner.
Merging borough policing
Question No: 2016/2118
Andrew Dismore
Do you plan to go ahead with your predecessor’s scheme to merge Police Borough Command Units?
Written response from the Mayor
I want to restore real neighbourhood policing for London.
Any substantial changes will be outlined as part of my Police and Crime Plan and will go through extensive consultation.
Detective shortage
Question No: 2016/2119
Andrew Dismore
What progress is being made in addressing the shortage of trained detectives?
Written response from the Mayor
Significant activity is underway to increase the number of trained detectives. This includes: external recruitment campaigns; detective recruitment open days; specialist crime trainee detective scheme; and mentoring schemes across territorial policing and specialist departments to identify and support detectives of the future.
The latest recruitment process selected 101 new trainee detectives. Furthermore an additional 225 officers have registered for the National investigator exam (NIE).
Water cannon
Question No: 2016/2120
Andrew Dismore
Will you now dispose of the useless water cannon?
Written response from the Mayor
I made a manifesto commitment to do this and I intend to deliver it.
Officers qualified for promotion 1
Question No: 2016/2121
Andrew Dismore
How many Met. constables have passed the necessary examinations and are qualified for promotion to sergeant?
Written response from the Mayor
2,007 Police Constables / Detective Constables currently hold valid Objective Structured Performance Related Examination (OSPRE) passes for sergeant.
Officers qualified for promotion 2
Question No: 2016/2122
Andrew Dismore
How many Met. sergeants have passed the necessary examinations and are qualified for promotion to inspector ?
Written response from the Mayor
793 substantive Police Sergeants / Detective Sergeants currently hold valid OSPRE passes.
Officer Vacancies 1
Question No: 2016/2123
Andrew Dismore
How many sergeant vacancies are you anticipating in the Met over the current year?
Written response from the Mayor
The MPS are anticipating approximately 450 sergeant vacancies over the coming year.
Officer Vacancies 2
Question No: 2016/2124
Andrew Dismore
How many inspector vacancies are you anticipating in the Met over the current year?
Written response from the Mayor
The MPS are anticipating approximately 200 inspector vacancies over the coming year.
Special constables
Question No: 2016/2125
Andrew Dismore
What plans do you have to increase the number of specials in the Met and how do you propose to achieve this?
Written response from the Mayor
The MPS completed a review of the MSC earlier in the year and I will be sure to reflect on its findings as I develop my Police and Crime Plan.
Police horses
Question No: 2016/2126
Andrew Dismore
How many police horses are there in the Met; how many officers are there qualified to be mounted officers; and what is the cost of keeping a police horse, per year?
Written response from the Mayor
The Mounted Branch operates at 110 horses across London. The MPS has a total of 142 riding police officers and a budget of £5,558 per horse per annum. This budget excludes stables which are part of the estates budget.
River police
Question No: 2016/2127
Andrew Dismore
How many police launches are there in the Met., and what is the annual cost of keeping a launch operational?
Written response from the Mayor
Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.
Senior officer residential accommodation
Question No: 2016/2128
Andrew Dismore
Does the Met still provide, pay for, or subsidise the cost of accommodation for senior officers; if so which officers benefit from this perk; and what does it cost per year?
Written response from the Mayor
Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.
Capital City Functions
Question No: 2016/2129
Andrew Dismore
What is the current estimate of the cost to the Met of the international and capital city functions it performs; how is this calculated; and how much is reimbursed by central government?
Written response from the Mayor
The National and International Capital City (NICC) functions cover a number of unique and additional demands. These include the policing of national-scale protests, which are often focused on the capital as the seat of Government; protection for our national and international interests such as the financial centre, major tourist attractions, foreign embassies and critical national infrastructure; and managing the impact of London as a draw for criminals from the UK and overseas.
Throughout 2015, the Home Office conducted a review of the NICC functions concluding with an independent panel to review the bid of MOPAC/MPS. The independent panel concurred with MOPAC/MPS proposals which were costed at £281m. However, the Government only allocated £174m, 62% of the panel’s assessment of need.
Best wishes
Andrew Dismore AM
Labour London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden
