Agenda and minutes

To approve as correct the minutes of the meeting held on 18 February 2019 and authorise the Chairman to sign them.

The minutes of the meeting of the Sub-Committee held on 18 February 2019  were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Sub-Committee received information on performance against indicators during Quarter Four (January – March 2019).

The Sub-Committee received, and noted, the number of shifts where minimum strength was met, the number of working days lost to aid abstractions from ring fenced roles and data on neighbourhood officers abstracted by rank and officers abstracted by aid, court and training, as detailed in the report.

During discussion, Members requested a report on the Introduction of Tasers in Romford Town Centre, to be presented to the next meeting.

The Sub-Committee considered what performance information they would require for future meetings and agreed that response times, burglary, non DA violence with injury, domestic abuse and anti-social behaviour would be monitored.

The Sub-Committee noted the contents of the report.

The Sub-Committee received a report that set out the proposal from the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) on the Partnership Plus scheme for S.92 Police Officers for Havering for a decision by Cabinet.

The new Partnership Plus Scheme was launched in February 2019 to support safer neighbourhoods within London Boroughs. The report detailed that the MOPAC Partnership Plus Scheme for the London Boroughs must be discussed and considered with the Borough Commander.

The report informed the Sub-Committee that the new scheme would allow the Council to purchase police officers at a reduced rate of £57,000 per police constable, £70,500 per sergeant and £86,000 per inspector.  This represented a discount of over 21% of the full cost of a police constable.

The minimum term for Partnership Plus Scheme agreement was three years, albeit either party may terminate the agreement with six months’ notice for any reason within the term.

The process for securing these posts was similar to the previous arrangements with a receipt of a Letter of Intent from the London Borough, confirmation of availability of the additional officers and Deputy Assistant Commissioner's approval.

There was the opportunity to explore additional funding to support the scheme locally engaging with other partners including the Business Improvement Districts within Havering.

The Sub-Committee noted that a Local Authority could raise additional revenue through either Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 or a Late Night Levy that may be used to fund the purchase of additional officers through the Partnership Plus Scheme.

The report indicated that officers purchased under the Partnership Plus Scheme would be additional to the BCU Establishment. Partnership Plus officers would be available for approximately 10 High Demand Days annually for which a discount had been applied to the annual rates.

The report outlined the one Council approach to enforcement in order to ensure consistency and the effective use of resources to tackle crime and disorder issues in Havering. Should the Council commit to the arrangements for the additional police officers, the intention would be to co-locate them within the Enforcement Group. 

The Sub-Committee was informed that the proposed council funded Police Partnership Plus S92 officers would be deployed to police and support both the Safer Havering Partnership priorities and Havering Tactical Enforcement Group (TEG) tasking priorities.

The Sub-Committee noted the report.

The Sub-Committee noted the Annual Report 2018/19 which was presented at Council on the 10 July 2019.

To discuss agenda items for forthcoming meetings.

Following discussion, the Sub-Committee agreed for the following items be placed on its work plan for the next meeting:

1.    Quarter One Performance Indicators Update

2.    Presentation on the use of Taser by MPS

3.    Travellers Injunction Update since 2016

To consider whether the public should now be excluded from the remainder of the meeting on the grounds that it is likely that, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, if members of the public were present during those items there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972; and, if it is decided to exclude the public on those grounds, the Committee to resolve accordingly on the motion of the Chairman.

The Committee resolved to exclude the public from the meeting during discussion of the following item on the grounds that it was likely that, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, if members of the public were present during those items there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

There were no members of the public or press present for the duration of the meeting. 

The Sub-Committee received an overview of how the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) were tackling drugs in Havering. The report outlined that criminal drug use could be found at the root of many of the social problems, often manifesting in problematic behaviour on streets and behind closed doors.

The Sub-Committee noted that crime and disorder ranged from low level drugs related ASB and litter, to high level dealing, supply, OCN and violent crime.

The report indicated that tackling drugs issues required a wide range of tactics and interventions – across East Area’s policing strands, other Met departments and in partnership with local authorities and other agencies – particularly around the regulation of all drug classifications and support work for those who were drug dependent.

The MPS had recently re-launched its drugs strategy, focusing on drug-related violence (DRV) and the East Area Basic Command Unit (BCU) was committed to the policy. It was noted that this would demonstrate a long term commitment to reducing demand, harm and supply within the operating parameters of the BCU.

Higher level OCN targeting and DRV would be the responsibility of the Met Specialist Crime and the NCA.

The report explained that Police data analysis showed that possession offences accounted for around 93% of drug offences in Havering, with Romford Town Centre consistently holding the highest volume.  Rainham and Wennington had seen a spike in May 2019.

The Sub-Committee was informed that within the BCU (and Havering), any focused drugs work would predominantly be undertaken by the local SNT and CID. However Emergency Response and Safeguarding teams would be heavily involved through their ongoing demand. It was noted that within the Safeguarding Team, it had been identified that drug and alcohol dependency was a key driver for Domestic Abuse and other related issues.

The Sub-Committee was informed that whilst all strands of the MPS would deal with drug-related crime, the focus should always be on prevention. This would be achieved through continued partnerships under IOM (inc DIP) and across the London Borough of Havering and other agencies which educate, along with intervening and supporting those with a drug dependency. This was a joint problem to continue to tackle and reduce.

The report informed that the Police would continue to support existing strategies connected with YOS, IOM, MARAC and MASH functions, many of which would feature drug and alcohol dependencies which drove criminal behaviour.

RESOLVED:

That the contents of the report be noted.