Presentation to London Scrutiny Network

1. Presentation to London Scrutiny Network Cdr Gary Copson 23rd April 2008

2. Background 26th April 2007 • Sir Ronnie Flanaganwas asked by John Reid to conduct an Independent Review of Policing following the March publication of the government’s policy review report Building on Progress: Security, Crime and Justice. • He was asked to look at 4 key areas: • How we reduce bureaucracy and promote better business processes.  • How we sustain and mainstream the excellent progress that has been made on neighbourhood policing. • How we can ensure that the public are driving local policing priorities and improve local involvement and accountability. • How the service can manage its resources effectively to deliver on the tough challenges of the coming years.

3. Interim ReportPublished 12th September 2007 The Interim Report • Sir Ronnie presented the interim report of the Review of Policing to the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith in September 2007. • The interim report put forward 26 recommendations in the two areas of reducing bureaucracy and embedding neighbourhood policing. • It also provided some early thoughts around improving local accountability and making better use of resources. Key Overarching Themes • Risk aversion is at the heart of unnecessary bureaucracy and leadership from Ministers, ACPO and the APA is required to achieve cultural change and restore officer discretion. • The successful embedding of neighbourhood policing will only be achieved if it is integrated within a wider neighbourhood management approach to partnership working with the other groups and agencies central to its delivery.

4. Interim Report Reducing Bureaucracy Key Themes • There has been an increase in risk aversion and there is a need to restore officer discretion. • Freeing officer time through more streamlined processes. How can this be achieved? • The interim report provided 13 recommendations to help reduce bureaucracy these included: • Tripartite leadership to foster a new culture that will restore officer discretion. • The redefinition of violent crime. • The introduction of standard forms. • Streamlining of the CPS process including the use of virtual courts. • Better use of mobile data.

5. Interim ReportNeighbourhood Policing Key Themes • The successful embedding of neighbourhood policing is dependent on it’s integration within a wider neighbourhood management approach. • Suggestions for how central and force structures and policies can help support the embedding of neighbourhood policing. How can this be achieved? • The interim report provided 13 recommendations to help embed neighbourhood policing these included: • A cross departmental action plan to embed neighbourhood policing in a wider neighbourhood management partnership approach. • Ensuring the unique local nature of neighbourhood policing is properly represented in central targets. • Proper training and development for members of neighbourhood policing teams. • Proper funding arrangements for the future.

6. Interim ReportGovernment Response 29th November 2007 • The Home Secretary responded to Sir Ronnie in a letter detailing how the government would be approaching the interim recommendations. This included: • An announcement in September 2007 that a £50 million Home Office fund has been created to help pay for the roll out of 10,000 mobile data devices. • Shared targets in the Criminal Justice System and more streamlined processes. • Tripartite co-operation to address risk aversion through better leadership. • A commitment to look at crime recording processes and data requirements from the centre. • A commitment for cross departmental work to be carried out to embed neighbourhood policing in a wider neighbourhood management approach. • The Home Secretary also announced in November that funding for PCSOs would be ring fenced for a further year.

7. Final ReportPublished 7th February 2008 The Final Report • Sir Ronnie presented the final report of the Review of Policing to the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith in February 2008. • The final report put forward 33 recommendations in the three areas of reducing bureaucracy, embedding neighbourhood policing and managing resources effectively. • It also provided some options for the government to consider further regarding how local accountability could be improved. Key Overarching Themes • Addressing the need to better manage the risks borne by the police in order to reduce threat to the public and lessen the harm caused by crime. • Building on the messages of the interim report; providing neighbourhood policing through a partnership approach that will help to effectively identify and address local problems. • The challenges of policing today and a vision for 21st century policing.

8. Final Report Reducing Bureaucracy Key Themes • Balancing necessary and unnecessary bureaucracy. • Focusing officers on doing the right things and using the right processes. How can this be achieved? • The final report provided a number of recommendations to help reduce bureaucracy. These included: • Reviewing all existing doctrine to consolidate and remove any overlaps. • Initiation of a debate surrounding risk aversion and driving culture change from the centre. • More streamlined and proportionate crime recording processes. • A review of the RIPA Codes of Practice. • Streamlining of the Stop and Account process.

9. Final Report Neighbourhood Policing Key Themes • Creating effective partnerships and building on integrating neighbourhood policing within a wider neighbourhood management approach. • Spreading learning and improving delivery by creating the right structures, environment and policies to ensure the long term success of neighbourhood policing. • Increase in citizen focused policing and promoting community cohesion. How can this be achieved? • The final report provided a number of recommendations to help embed neighbourhood policing. These included: • Better support for community partnership working in two tier authority areas. • Proper governance for implementation of the cross governmental action plan for integrated neighbourhood management. • A joint excellence programme for leadership and training staff working in partnerships. • Sharing the lessons from the Single Non Emergency Number (101). • Agreed funding for the next 3 years. • Minimising abstraction from neighbourhood policing teams. • Better support from Police Authorities.

10. Final Report Managing Resources Key Themes • Better clarification of roles and responsibilities in accountability and performance. • Improving comparative information for decision making on performance and productivity. • Reforming the workforce. • Allocating resources against need. How can this be achieved? • The final report provided a number of recommendations to help the police service better manage its resources. These included: • Clarification of roles and responsibilities to remove duplication and clarify accountability. • Better reflection of high level productivity measures in central targets. • Overhaul of the police funding formula. • The removal of barriers to voluntary merger. • Further examination of workforce reform in the forthcoming Green Paper. • Proper weighting for resource management and productivity in training and development. • A review of demand profiles to match resources to risk. • Improved use of technology. • A new entrepreneurial approach to policing.

11. Final Report Local Accountability Key Themes • A set of principles to guide discussions of local accountability. • A series of options for structural change. How can this be achieved? The final report provided: • Some basic principles that should guide local accountability: • Participative and inclusive • Credible and legitimate • Clear, open and transparent • Responsive and equitable • Balanced and proportionate • Efficient and effective • Offering redress • Some options for structural change, including: • Introduce directly elected elements into policing such as elected commissioners • Strengthen local authorities • Strengthen police authorities • Strengthen accountability below force level at a local level • Introduce force wide solutions

12. Final ReportGovernment Response 9th April 2008 • The response outlined a ‘mandate for action’ on the part of the government and strongly endorsed Sir Ronnie’s interim and final reports. • Key to the response was the reinstated enthusiasm in the pilots to reform stop and account and reduce paperwork. • Other key points made by the Home Secretary in her response include: • A review of the Directed Surveillance and Covert Human Intelligence Codes of Practice associated with RIPA. • The commencement of new, less prescriptive Public Service Agreements (PSAs). • The commissioning of the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) to undertake a review of police information technology. • Indication of a number of points the Home Office will be responding to further in the impending Policing Green Paper due for publication in the summer: • The respective roles in policing. • Workforce reform. • Giving people a greater role in setting local priorities and holding the police to account.

13. http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/police-reform/flanagan-police-review/http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/police-reform/flanagan-police-review/