Correspondence

Crime and policing news update: January 2015

Published 6 February 2015

1. Home Office hosts the first International Crime and Policing Conference

The Home Office held the inaugural International Crime and Policing Conference, ‘Cutting crime in a changing world’ on 28 and 29 January. The Home Secretary gave the opening speech, in which she announced a new £10 million Police Knowledge Fund to support closer working between police and academia to promote evidence-based policing.

The conference featured many distinguished academics and leaders in law enforcement: Professor Franklin Zimring of UC Berkeley used the example of the crime decline in New York to explore drivers in crime reduction and demonstrate the capacity for short term interventions to create long term crime reduction benefits; Toronto’s long-serving Chief of Police, William Blair, drew on his experience to discuss improving police capability and engaging hard to reach communities; and Sadie Creese, of Oxford University’s Cyber Security Centre challenged delegates to consider what the cyber-enabled future will look like, and what action we must take to ensure that it is one where crime continues to fall.

The Home Office also published a series of research and analysis reports relevant to the conference which explore the drivers of crime and the latest crime trends.

2. Home Secretary announces Police Knowledge Fund

At the International Crime and Policing Conference, the Home Secretary announced a new £10 million Police Knowledge Fund to support closer working between police and academia in order to promote evidence-based policing and more effective responses to crime.

Funded jointly by the Home Office and the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the Fund will incentivise collaborations between police forces and academic institutions to help establish a recognised body of knowledge, evidence and expertise on policing and cutting crime. It is envisaged that the fund will help embed evidence-based problem solving approaches within forces and build sustained capability amongst officers and staff to understand and use research.

Further details about the application process, criteria and timetable for the fund will be sent to police and crime commissioners this month (February) and it is expected that the closing date for applications will be late May 2015. The College of Policing will be working closely with the Home Office and the Higher Education Funding Council for England in overseeing the fund.

3. TrackMyCrime launches on police.uk

On 29 January, a new online service which allows victims of crime to find the latest information about their case went live on the police.uk website. TrackMyCrime was initially launched by Avon and Somerset Constabulary, followed by Kent and South Yorkshire police force areas. Staffordshire, Humberside, Lancashire and Lincolnshire forces are due to go live during spring this year, and it is expected that other forces will join during the year.

TrackMyCrime will keep victims updated on the progress of their case, and allows them to submit details about stolen or damaged property, as well as find information on support and advice. Victims and police officers can also securely exchange messages with one another at any time, and officers can regularly update victims on the progress of the case.

The website will not replace speaking to a police officer in person, but gives the public more choice about how and when they can get information about their case.

4. Surrey and Sussex police launch online crime reporting tool

The Home Office is working with Surrey and Sussex police forces to develop a prototype online crime reporting tool, which the public can access from the police.uk website. The tool will make it easier for the public to report non-emergency crime.

Online reporting gives victims more choice over how and when they want to access policing services. Victims will now also be able to track the progress of their case through TrackMyCrime, which is being rolled out across all police forces this year. Online reporting and TrackMyCrime are key tools which are designed to improve the help and support available to victims, and make the criminal justice system easier to navigate.

Data from Sussex and Surrey police forces suggests that online reporting could save forces across England and Wales an estimated £3.7 million and 180,000 officer hours a year through efficiencies.

5. Fourteen forces start publishing stop and search data

On 30 January, 14 police forces began publishing their stop and search data on the police.uk website. This follows a successful pilot in West Mercia and Nottinghamshire police forces. In addition to the two pilot forces, Avon and Somerset, Cleveland, Dorset, Hampshire, Humberside, Leicestershire, North Yorkshire, North Wales, Surrey, Warwickshire, West Yorkshire and West Midlands police forces are now digitally mapping their stop and search data. The scheme allows residents in these force areas to see where stop and searches take place, and view details about the stop and search including the reason, outcome and ethnicity of the person stopped.

The Home Office is working with the remaining forces to support the development of location mapping capabilities and expects that the majority of forces will be using the Police.uk site to map their data by April 2015. This will allow the public to see how their force is using these powers, and hold them to account for their use.

6. HMIC publishes report on police integrity

On 30 January, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary published its report ‘Integrity matters’ setting out how police forces in England and Wales are tackling misconduct. HMIC found that whilst forces have made significant progress in preventing and tackling corruption, it is concerned that this is not being done consistently across forces, and that some forces lack the capability to proactively seek out and prevent corruption.

The findings reflect the strong push to challenge corrupt officers and staff and those who do not act with integrity. The College of Policing’s Code of Ethics, the register for chief officer gifts and hospitality and the disapproved register which prevents the re-employment of staff who have resigned whilst facing gross misconduct charges or have been dismissed for gross misconduct have all contributed to tackling integrity and corruption.

HMIC has made 15 recommendations which forces can easily implement, and which will lead to greater clarity and consistency in preventing and identifying corruption. HMIC will continue to examine forces’ ability to tackle misconduct, including corruption, as part of its PEEL inspections.

7. HMIC launches consultation on its 2015 and 2016 inspection programme

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary has launched a consultation seeking views on its proposed inspection programme for 2015 and 2016. The programme comprises national thematic inspections; joint inspections; PEEL assessments; inspections of other national law enforcement agencies; and commissions from the Home Secretary, and police and crime commissioners and other local policing bodies.

In particular, HMIC is keen to know if respondents feel the right areas for inspection are included in the programme, and if there are other areas that should be included. HMIC is also keen to know if there’s overlap between its proposed programme and work being planned or conducted by other organisations.
You can submit your answers to these questions, together with any comments, via the online form. Alternatively you can download the questionnaire form and send it to haveyoursay@hmic.gov.uk. The consultation closes on Wednesday 25 February.

8. Crown Prosecution Service issues new guidance on consent

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has published new guidance for police and prosecutors assessing the issue of consent in rape cases both before and at trial. Under the new guidance, prosecutors must now ask how the suspect knew that the complainant had consented - with full capacity and freedom to do so – and to look at the whole context of a rape allegation.

The guidance shows situations where a potential victim may have been unable to give consent either due to incapacity through drink or drugs, or if the suspect held a position of power over the potential victim, such as a teacher or an employer.

Other issues highlighted in the CPS guidance include: * establishing how the suspect knew the complainant consented to sex and continued to consent to all sexual activity; * establishing that signs from the complainant that they did not want sexual activity (such as freezing) were either not recognised or ignored; and, highlighting the danger that myths and stereotypes can have in impeding justice in rape cases for many years.

The College of Policing will be publishing updated national policing guidance on rape investigation in the coming weeks.

9. Revenge Porn Awareness Campaign launches

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) will be launching a campaign to raise public awareness that revenge porn is a criminal offence. Revenge porn refers to the sharing of intimate, sexual images of a person without their consent and with the intention of causing them distress. The new law is set out in the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill which is due to come into force in the spring and will carry a sentence of up to two years in prison.

The Be aware b4 you share campaign will launch on 12 February and aims to deter potential perpetrators by highlighting that revenge porn is a crime that will be prosecuted. It also seeks to support victims by signposting sources of advice. MoJ is running this campaign in partnership with Women’s Aid, the UK Safer Internet Centre and the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, and welcomes the support of those in the crime and policing community in promoting the campaign. For more information on the campaign or to find out how you can be involved, please contact.

10. New Mental Health Code of Practice published

The Department of Health has published its new Mental Health Code of Practice, which shows professionals how to carry out their roles and responsibilities under the Mental Health Act 1983, to ensure that all patients receive high quality and safe care.

The Home Office worked closely with the Department of Health and other national bodies (including the National Policing Lead for Mental Health) to make sure the policing interests were represented, particularly on Chapter 16 which covers police powers and places of safety.

Several changes have been made to chapter 16 which include:
* the exceptional circumstances in which a person detained under section 136 can be taken to the police station and that they should not be detained there longer than 24 hours; * when the police can use their powers of entry to enter a person’s home in an emergency crisis situation and when a warrant should be applied for under section 135; * the relevance of PACE Code C to people removed to a police station as a place of safety including the role of an appropriate adult; and, * clarifying the roles of the Approved Mental Health Professional and the doctor who accompany a police constable executing a warrant issued under section 135.

The new Code will come into force on 1 April, subject to parliamentary approval.

11. New THINK! campaign to support drug drive law change

From 2 March, a new law will come into effect in England and Wales, making it an offence to drive with illegal drugs in your system above a specified blood limit. The new law will make it easier for the police to detect those driving under the influence of drugs. It is also anticipated that it will improve conviction rates for drug driving because of the current difficulty of proving driver impairment under existing legislation.

To support the introduction of this legislation, the Department for Transport is developing a new THINK! campaign. A toolkit with campaign information and materials for use in local communications channels will shortly be available to police forces and other road safety professionals. You can e-mail to be notified once the toolkit is available. More information about the law is available on the THINK! website and you can also follow THINK! on Twitter using the handle @thinkgovuk.

12. Draft legislation published on new powers for the Scottish Parliament

The UK Government has published draft legislation on new powers for the Scottish Parliament. On 22 January a command paper was published. It shows how the measures included in the Smith Agreement would look in law, and sets out the main implications of the draft legislation on areas such as welfare, income tax, air passenger duty and VAT.

13. Speeches

The Home Secretary’s opening speech to the International Crime and Policing Conference.