The Police update will be provided by the Borough Police Commander.
Minutes:
The Borough Commander updated the Committee as follows:
The latest MOPAC crime data had been disseminated to members of the Committee prior to the meeting at the request of the Chairman.
It was noted that there had been an increase in the reporting of DV cases with violence, and also of ASB. The percentage of calls answered within 15 minutes was 89.6%, and the number of calls answered within 60 minutes was 85.5%.
The Borough Commander highlighted that out of 32 forces, there were only three that had been able to report an overall crime reduction with respect to the MOPAC 7 targets, and Bromley were one.
It was noted that advertising was underway to recruit for the position of a new Chief Commissioner. It was anticipated that the selection process would be completed by February 2017. The current Deputy Police Commissioner was acting, and it was likely that the person selected would be an external candidate.
Proposals for the new Basic Command Units (BCU) were gathering pace in an effort to save £400m. Twelve BCUs were planned, but no specific information was currently available to clarify which borough Bromley would be linked to. The Committee were briefed that it was likely that the boroughs of Camden and Islington would be the first to amalgamate. It was anticipated that the boroughs of Redbridge, Havering and Barking/Dagenham would follow in February 2017, and would be the first tri borough BCU.
BCUs would consist of 4 divisions:
Ø Neighbourhood Policing
Ø Emergency Response
Ø Local Investigation
Ø Protecting Vulnerable People
The Neighbourhood Policing division would incorporate youth policing and the use of Ward Officers. The Emergency Response Team would be a team that would operate across borough boundaries. The Local Investigation Team would be taken from the current CID. The CID would decrease in size so that some officers could be used in the new division that was focusing on protecting vulnerable people.
It was hoped that the new BCU structure would improve information and intelligence sharing. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor were in favour of the new BCU structures, and the 4 divisions corresponded to Mayoral priorities. The posts of Chief Inspectors and Commanders were being abolished. The Borough Commander briefed the Committee that Mr David Tait (currently Chief Inspector for Neighbourhood Policing) was leaving Bromley police to take up the post of ‘Chief of Staff’ for the delivery of the World Athletics Championships.
It was noted that as a result of the recent Ofsted report into Children’s Services in Bromley, three new officers were being recruited into roles that would be dealing with the prevention of the abuse and exploitation of children and young people.
In terms of staffing, Bromley police were losing 17 PCSO’s next month, as part of a corporate process. There would still be 33 PCSO’s left, which meant that there was still enough resource to have at least one PCSO per ward. Three PCSOs had been allocated to Bromley Town centre and three to Orpington.
The Committee were briefed about a recent traffic enforcement operation that had been undertaken called ‘Operation Patia’ which had taken place for one hour per day. During the course of the operation, 48 individuals had been reported for driving and using a mobile phone, and 7 cars had been seized as they were not insured.
A member asked if Bromley police had any control over which forces they could be joined with as part of the BCU structure, and if marked or unmarked cars were being used for the mobile phone operation. The Borough Commander clarified that Bromley police did not have the luxury of choosing who they would be linked in with as part of the BCU structure, and that in the operation against mobile phone usage unmarked cars were used.
The Chairman expressed concern about being linked with Croydon, as it was anticipated that Croydon would have heavy demand. She wondered if the BCUs could be based on the administrative links that currently existed within the GLA.
The Vice Chairman raised the issue of ASB in his ward (especially problems linked to the anti-social use of motor bikes) and expressed dismay that the matter was not a Mayoral priority. The Borough Commander responded that the use of Ward Officers would make difference, combined with the use of off road motor bikes. Five tasking teams had also been formed to deal with the problem.
A member expressed concern that the police (like other organisations) seemed to be continually restructuring, and that this was not always beneficial. He put forward the view that relationships with partners could be damaged, and that it may be better to focus simply on delivery. The Borough Commander noted the point, but stated that the police were directed by the Mayor and the Home Secretary. It was the case that the BCU structure would give rise to various savings, including management costs.
A member asked if any of the 17 PCSOs that were being moved were now planning to leave the police. The Borough Commander answered that 1 PCSO had stated that he/she was going to leave the service, but this had not happened yet. The Borough Commander promised to update the public and LBB when more information became available concerning the BCU composition.
A member asked about various entry schemes into the Met. and asked if it was true that some entrants were going straight in at Superintendent level. The Borough Commander responded that although a scheme of that nature did exist, it was not the case that entrants would entry immediately at this level; they would work as constables initially, and then work their way up. A member expressed concern that new entrants on such schemes may be exposed to difficult and violent incidents without sufficient experience and training to deal with such situations. The Borough Commander noted the point, but stated that he was aware of external candidates on such schemes, who had been involved in difficult incidences, and had performed very well.
A member flagged up the problem of motorcycles racing at speed up and down Orpington High Street. Residents in the Knoll area had been particularly vocal in complaining about this, and the issue needed addressing.
RESOLVED that the police update be noted.