Police Plenary December 2014 – Written answers
Police plenary Dec 14 : written answers
criminal records
Question No: 2014/4982
Andrew Dismore
In what circumstances do you consider a criminal record should not be a bar to joining the police service; and in particular, would you consider or rule out an application from someone with a conviction or caution for drugs, violence or acquisitive crime offences?
Written response from the Mayor and Commissioner
The MPS are understandably very careful about who they recruit and operate a rigorous vetting procedure.
Offences that are minor and historic in nature should not necessarily prohibit an individual from becoming an officer. A balanced and nuanced approach is necessary and difficult cases are increasingly being subject to individual consideration.
crime reduction target
Question No: 2014/4983
Andrew Dismore
Do you agree that your top-down demand for a 20% reduction in crime has led to both under recording and downgrading of crime that is recorded in local Met crime statistics?
Written response from the Mayor and Commissioner
No and there is no evidence to support this.
HMIC’s 2014 inspection of the Met’s Crime Data Integrity identified that senior managers encouraged staff to record crime accurately and that HMIC had not found evidence of performance pressures affecting the MPS approach to crime recording. There are no reduction targets for crimes that we know are significantly under reported including sexual offences, hate crime and domestic abuse.
The basket of MOPAC 7 crimes was carefully selected to avoid precisely this, so that all crime types contribute to the target and, for example, to downgrade robbery to theft from the person would be counterproductive.
There is however no room for complacency and work is taking place, led at Chief Officer level, to strengthen the MPS arrangements for crime recording and specifically to address areas for improvement identified through internal and external audit and inspection activity.
A comparator of MPS performance is the Crime Survey for England and Wales which draws on the experiences of the public rather than what is recorded by the police. This continues to show that crime is falling.
Hampstead Town contact point
Question No: 2014/4984
Andrew Dismore
Are you satisfied with the arrangements for Hampstead Town contact point?
Written response from the Mayor and Commissioner
This venue was where the public requested it to be after conducting a six week trial with three other venues. The Hampstead contact point remains one of a number of methods for the public to contact police, others include by phone, appointment and station offices open 24/7 at Kentish Town and during the day at Holborn. We continue to advertise the Hampstead contact point whilst also considering any other options for public contact.
Police advertising campaign
Question No: 2014/4985
Andrew Dismore
How much has been spent on the recent advertising campaign including the posters on phone boxes about police performance in each borough?
Written response from the Mayor and Commissioner
In total £562,884 was spent on the recent advertising campaign. This includes production costs and supporting marketing
Street lighting
Question No: 2014/4986
Andrew Dismore
What are the likely consequences for crime levels, if Barnet Council switch off the street lighting and leave parks unlocked at night?
Written response from the Mayor and Commissioner
This is a matter for the local authority.
We understand that these proposals are subject to wider consultation.
The Borough Commander and borough team will do their best to ensure the safety of everyone in the Borough.
Gang crime in Barnet
Question No: 2014/4987
Andrew Dismore
I am getting worrying reports of a dramatic increase in gang crime in Barnet, much of it drug related and violent or threatening. What are you doing about it?
Written response from the Mayor and Commissioner
During September and October there have been 12 recorded gang incidents involving Grahame Park Estate gang members. The MPS has taken firm action here, including 7 arrests and a range of activity to identify and disrupt gang nominals. In addition high visibility patrols have been put in place to reassure residents.
Over the last 12 months Barnet has shown a reduction in gang related crime. This has included a 10.3% reduction in victims of serious youth violence (11 fewer victims); a 70% reduction in gun crime where a gun has been discharged (7 fewer incidents); and a 8.3% reduction in victims of knife injury aged under 25, excluding domestic violence (2 fewer victims).
In general, MPS Trident Command and others have been successful in reducing gang crime by 23% in the last Financial Year. The Strategic Ambitions outlined in the London Crime Reduction Board’s Gang Strategy moves the focus from simply enforcement to prevention, diversion, and exit. Our aim is to reduce the harm to individuals and communities caused by gangs and serious youth violence in London
Where officers live:
homophobic hate crime reporting
Question No: 2014/4353
Andrew Dismore
All too often attempts to report homophobic hate crime are dealt with insensitively. Will you commit to ensuring every Met employee who provides frontline services is effectively trained to deal with reports of homophobic abuse?
Written response from the Mayor
One of the aims of my Hate Crime Reduction Strategy for London is to ensure victims have the confidence that when reporting any type of hate crime they will receive an appropriate response.
You will be aware that, as pledged in my Police and Crime Plan, there is a designated LGBT liaison officer role in every borough.
In addition, all MPS officers, staff and volunteers must complete a mandatory equality and diversity course, which includes Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) issues. Community Safety Unit staff who investigate hate crime receive a further bespoke one week course, covering all aspects of hate crime including LGBT.
In the last six months there has been a 22% increase in the number of homophobic hate crimes reported compared to the same period last year. Community stakeholders expressed the view during the consultation that this reflects an increase in confidence to report rather than an increase in the amount of homophobic hate crime perpetrated in London.
Stop and search Barnet
Question No: 2014/4372
Andrew Dismore
How many stops and searches have been conducted in Barnet borough in the last month; and how many did not result in an arrest?
Written response from the Mayor
There were 248 stops and searches conducted in Barnet in the month from 11 October to 10 November. Barnet borough is achieving in excess of the 20% arrest rate target. 176 stops and searches did not result in an arrest.