Agenda item

Borough Commander Andy Carter and Superintendent Jack May-Robinson provided the committee with the Police Annual Report and the following issues were highlighted:

·       The focus of the Police Force is primarily on community crime-fighting and working with Londoners to make it a safer place. It fundamentally resets how the force serves Londoners, transforming how to protect the public from harm, combatting violence against women and girls and safeguarding children. In addition, it is important that all measures are in place to prevent crime through a proactive and precise approach and providing the best results for victims of crime.

·       On the issue of culture change, the force has now embedded values and principles of policing by consent in how it undertakes its daily functions. Also it aims to ensure that in terms of its personnel recruitment that it becomes a more diverse and inclusive organisation so as to reflect the society it serves and in addition has put in place systems to root out discrimination and raise standards.

·       Meeting was informed that over 18months the Police was tasked into addressing the issues picked up by Baroness Casey’s review and with the conjunction with the leadership of Islington Council it has produced a local action plan with 10 actions that are easily measurable and monitored.

·       Board was reminded that following publication of the Baroness Casey Report, local partners and communities from Islington have requested clarity on the Borough commitment to take action locally, in order to address the points raised on policing.

·       The Central North Local Action Plan has been developed in order to deliver upon the “A New Met for London” Strategy from feedback raised by the local partnership and communities.

·       Delivery of the actions is to be monitored by the community through quarterly New Met for London meetings, which will enable community representatives to provide feedback as part of an ongoing conversation, and actions will also be monitored through quarterly strategic meetings with the Local Authority.

·       Board was advised that regular progress updates will be provided to partners and community to ensure confidence in the Police’s commitment to deliver on the specific actions within a year; to monitor progress; to continually review; and, ultimately, to change and deliver the Mission of More Trust, Less Crime and High Standards.

·       On the issue of Neighbourhood policing, focus is primarily on both coordinated crime fighting and community engagement activity by strengthening local links with communities to build trust by delivering consistency in staffing and staff retention. Also the Police have put in place a 2 year tenure for neighbourhood roles, thereby ending the current probationer carousel system.

·       With regards to enhancing professionalism, meeting was advised that a Board is in place which reviews complaints, misconduct and threats identifying opportunities for interventions around professional standards. The Board ensures compliance with policies and processes including focus on the areas that have been identified as a “risk of corruption.

·       In terms of citizen involvement, the Police have developed its approach to consultation and public participation in policing, in areas around police use of force, the use of search powers and the use of Taser. In addition, with ward panel serving as advisory forums. It aims to ensure that there is strong representation from diverse backgrounds in order to provide insight and drive improvement and consistency. 

·       Delivering coordinated crime fighting is data driven by targeting Islington’s key places and people who are causing most harm to communities. It is important to note that using Met Insights and Met Maps ensures the approach is intelligence led and targeted. The Police continually listens to feedback from communities and deliver against a wider set of priorities. Police continue to work with partners to identify locations where communities do not feel safe, in order to not only address crime, this but also the areas where there is the greatest fear of crime, that this provides reassurances through visibility, communication and engagement.

·       Developing and supporting its people is to ensure residents have a strong voice and are empowered to be involved in decision making . Focus is now on working towards ensuring that officers and staff at Islington reflect the communities they serve. Training is delivered to officers so as to connect them with Islington and especially dedicated training for our new recruits to hear from the voices of our residents and communities.

·       Communication is vital so utilising local partnership best practices and networks to maximise the spread of its community engagement, key message sharing and promotion of good news stories with the use of online platforms to communicate more effectively, including expanding the use of Social Media including Twitter (now X), Instagram, Next Door, and introduce ZenCity. Also monthly regular news are now circulated to ensure that the community are kept up to date on how to contact the policing teams of Islington along with good news stories and key updates.

·       The Police have taken up the offer of partners with staff released to receive training and awareness of community based trauma, which enables the Service to tailor its approach as required, an example such as working with Islington’s Young Black Men and Mental Health, and Cultural Competency Training to enhance knowledge and compassion. The Service has prioritised teams which have the most regular contact with our community including Response and Neighbourhood policing teams and will continue to deliver and enhance lived experience inputs for new officers, regarding the impact which policing can have on our communities. Meeting was advised that line managers have regular health checks with their team, in order to identify trauma and signpost support where required.

·       In terms of strengthening public protection, the number of staff have been increased within prioritised Public Protection units. In addition the Police will ensure closer scrutiny and management of high risk wanted offenders and perpetrators, through the use of Op Dauntless and the 100 VAWG mechanisms.

·       With regards to protecting the most vulnerable, the Service in conjunction with the LGA to supports the Fairer Together Access Islington Hubs, in order to provide joint support to those who need it most. There has been an increase in standards in relation to the investigation of Hate Crime, an increase with the investment of a dedicated investigation team, in order to build trust and confidence whilst providing a better victim experience. The Service proactively share investigative updates with partners, Hate Crime charities and those with lived experience, to improve our service and outcomes.

·       The Service is keen to deliver high quality investigations by improving support for less experienced investigators by creating and resourcing a dedicated “Support Detective Sergeant” role, sitting alongside Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Main Office, to oversee the development of  investigators, and increase the range of support, training and mentoring available to TDCs and DHEP- D officers.

·       In response to how the police force addresses concerns about trust and confidence, the Commander acknowledged that although it undertakes a public attitude survey, which consist of a small sample of 200 residents seeking feedback on issues of safety and crime within the area, noting there is still room for improvement.

·       With regards to representation of the force, meeting was advised that in comparison to May 2021 where there were only 21 female, there has been an increase of 35.3%. With regards to BAME officers over the same period there has been a drop of 0.01%. At future meetings presentations to the committee will reflect the issues raised and in particular the breakdown of frontline and backroom staff.

·       On the issue of recruitment, meeting was advised that this was not done locally but centrally.

·       Chair welcomed a suggestion by Corporate Director for members of the Committee and relevant ward councillors to receive a personal briefing on the issue of criminal profiling.

·       On the question of the success with delivering coordinated crime fighting in and around the Finsbury Park area and the possibility of rolling it out to other notable areas like housing estates, meeting was advised that this was specific to that area because of its uniqueness, that there were no immediate plans to roll it out.  Nearly 45% of serious violence exacted on under 25s is committed by under 25s.

·       With regards to facial recognition and its usage, meeting was reassured that serious crimes has been prevented by the use of the technology and that if Police decide to use it within the borough, the Council would be notified on the day and will be widely publicised.

RESOLVED:

     That the Annual report be noted