Correspondence

Crime and policing news update: July 2014

Published 31 July 2014

1. Launch of Modern Slavery campaign

The Home Office has launched a campaign to raise awareness of modern slavery today (31st July). It aims to educate people about the different types of slavery, how to spot the signs and report. A television advert depicting some types of exploitation will highlight the existence of modern slavery in Britain, and encourage the public to report suspicions to a new helpline 0800 0121 700 and website.

The helpline and website have been set up by the Home Office and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) to ensure that suspicions are reported, and that victims are referred on and receive the appropriate support. The website provides more information about modern slavery, and an online reporting and referral process.

To enable partners and frontline professionals to raise awareness of modern slavery and help victims, there is also a partner resource pack available on GOV.UK.

2. Crime, outcomes and police workforce in England and Wales

On 17 July the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published the latest quarterly crime statistics. On the same day, the Home Office published statistics on police officer numbers in England and Wales, and the first annual statistics on outcomes of crime recorded by the police (which replaces the old detections publication).

Overall crime is down by 14% compared to the previous year, according to the independent Crime Survey for England and Wales (which is included in the ONS quarterly statistics). The figures show crime is down 62% since 1995, and is at its lowest level since the survey began in 1981.

Police recorded crime shows no overall change from the previous year. These latest results suggest more victims are coming forward to report previously under-reported crimes like fraud and sexual offences to the police.

In April 2013, a new crime outcome framework which better reflects the work that the police do to solve and resolve crime was adopted. Since April 2014, the police assign one of 19 outcome types to every crime that is recorded. The first annual data on the full set of 19 outcomes will be available in July 2015.

3. Consultation on HM Inspectorate of Constabulary’s new approach to assessing police performance

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has launched a public consultation on its new approach to assessing police performance. HMIC will soon begin inspecting each of the 43 police forces in England and Wales against the new criteria to assess how well each force:

• provides value for money (efficiency)
• cuts crime (effectiveness)
• provides a service that is fair and treats people properly (legitimacy)

Each force will be given a rating for each of these 3 areas, giving the public a user-friendly way to see how well their local force is performing, and in the future, if their local force is improving.

HMIC wants to hear the views of the police service, the public and others as they develop the new approach to assessing police performance. You can email your answers to the consultation questions, together with any comments, to haveyoursay@hmic.gov.uk by Friday 29 August 2014. Alternatively, you can post your responses to Chief Operating Officer, HMIC, 6th Floor, Globe House, 89 Eccleston Square, London, SW1V 1PN.

4. Police Code of Ethics laid as a code of practice

On 15 July, the police Code of Ethics was laid as a code of practice in parliament. The Code was developed by the College of Policing, and sets out the standards of behaviour that the public can expect from all police officers. It will also help guide decision making in forces. You can find out more about the Code of Ethics and the College’s integrity work.

5. By-election for the West Midlands police and crime commissioner

August 21st has been set by the Police Area Returning Officer for the West Midlands as the date of a by-election to elect a new police and crime commissioner (PCC) to oversee West Midlands Police. Voters in the West Midlands can find out who their candidates are on choosemypcc.org.uk or look out for a booklet being delivered to homes in the region. Residents in the West Midlands need to be registered to be able to vote. People can either vote in person at a polling station, by post, or by proxy (allowing someone you trust to vote on your behalf). This will be under the Supplementary Vote system and the ballot paper may look different from usual. To register to vote visit gov.uk/register-to-vote and for more general information visit the West Midlands election site.

6. Consultation on changes to the Mental Health Act 1983 Code of Practice

The Department of Health has launched a consultation on revisions to the Code of Practice for the Mental Health Act 1983. The Code provides guidance to mental health, social care professionals and others in England on how to undertake their duties under the Act. It also sets out the care and support available to people suffering a mental health crisis whilst in detention. The proposed changes include significant updates to police powers and places of safety (Chapter 16). You can submit your views using the online consultation response form by Friday 12 September 2014.

7. Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat roadshows

Local partners from the health, community and voluntary, and criminal justice sectors are being encouraged by the government to come together to show their commitment to improving responses to people suffering mental health crisis. The Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat, published in February, sets out the standard of response people should expect, and principles that partners should follow when working together.

The mental health charity Mind is working with the Department of Health to promote the Concordat to local areas in England, and is running a series of regional roadshows to support partners set up their own local crisis care declarations. You can find details of the road shows and register your attendance. It is expected that all areas across England will have their own local declaration by the end of 2014. For further information, please contact Mind

8. Hajj fraud - National awareness campaign

With Hajj approaching, a national Hajj fraud prevention campaign has been launched to help British Muslims arranging their pilgrimage to Mecca avoid becoming a victim of fraudsters. The City of London Police has published fraud prevention advice, alongside a video and a Hajj fraud leaflet which is available in 7 languages.

9. New guidance to help frontline professionals tackle ASB

The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 sets out new powers which will allow the police, local councils, social landlords, as well as other organisations to tackle anti-social behaviour. New statutory guidance for frontline professionals has been published, which provides information on each of the 6 new powers, the community trigger and community remedy, and the new powers allowing the most anti-social tenants to be evicted faster to bring relief to victims.

In order to allow sufficient time for training and process changes to take place, the new powers in Parts 1 to 6 of the Act will come into force on 20 October 2014.

10. Local multi-agency action against serious and organised crime

The Home Office has held a series of workshops to promote the Serious and Organised Crime Strategy and local multi-agency partnership working to tackle it. Over 800 partners attended the workshops, including representatives from local authorities, police and crime commissioners’ offices, prisons and charities.

Feedback showed that partners feel “local conditions should dictate local response”, and that existing structures (particularly Community Safety Partnerships) should be used to support local multi-agency activity against serious and organised crime. Partners have asked for more guidance on a number of areas, particularly cyber crime and information sharing. A programme of work that addresses these and other local delivery issues in the Serious and Organised Crime Strategy is being finalised. If you would like further details about this work please contact ocstrategy@homeoffice.x.gov.uk.

11. Action to tackle irresponsible drinking

Ministers met with alcohol industry representatives on 7 July to agree the industry’s response to the government’s challenge to tackle the £21 billion a year cost of alcohol related harm.

The industry has agreed to support a set of new pledges that demonstrate their continuing commitment to the Public Health Responsibility Deal and build on progress already made by the alcohol industry to remove one billion units from the market, and labelling products responsibly. The new pledges include:

• ending the production and sale of super-strength products in large cans;
• reducing the numbers of units sold in bars and pubs by offering house wine below 12.5% ABV and actively promoting lower alcohol products;
• developing standards for the responsible retailing of alcohol, covering the promotion of alcohol and in-store signage and alcohol information;
• supporting 20 Local Alcohol Action Areas by extending partnership schemes such as Best Bar None, Pubwatch and Community Alcohol Partnerships; and
• providing £250,000 of industry funding to establish a Lifeskills Education and Alcohol Foundation to provide life skills education in schools.

The new pledges build on the action already taken by the government to tackle alcohol related harm, which includes the first ever minimum permitted price for alcoholic products. The ban on the sale of alcohol below the level of duty plus VAT came in to force on 28 May.

12. Amendments to the Firearms Act 1968

The firearms provisions (108 and 111) in the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 came into effect on 14 July. These set out the following new penalties:

• increasing the maximum penalty for importation and exportation of prohibited firearms and ammunition without authority from 10 years to life
• increasing the maximum penalty for manufacture, sale or transfer or purchasing or acquiring for sale of transfer prohibited firearms and ammunition without authority from 10 years to life
• creating a new offence of possession for sale or transfer of a prohibited firearm or ammunition without authority with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment
• extending the definition of a prohibited person to include those with a suspended sentence of 3 months or more who will be prohibited from possessing a firearm, including an antique firearm, or ammunition for 5 years. Previously only those who had served prison sentences of between 3 months and 3 years were prohibited for 5 years. Persons who have previously been sentenced to imprisonment for a term of more than 3 years are already permanently prohibited

Further details can be found in the updated Guide to Firearms Licensing Law and the Home Office Circular covering these provisions.

13. Online Scottish referendum website launches

On 18 July, exactly 2 months ahead of the Scottish independence referendum, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander launched YouDecide, an online tool designed to make people in Scotland as fully informed as possible ahead of making their decision on 18 September. The tool allows users to select information about their work life, home life and family life in Scotland, to find out how being part of the UK benefits them by breaking down detailed government analysis and making it relevant to individual circumstances. As well as providing information, YouDecide, also allows people to submit questions regarding Scottish referendum issues.

14. Speeches

• the Home Secretary’s speech to parliament on police reform
• the Home Secretary’s speech at the Girls’ Summit 2014
• Karen Bradley’s speech to the Finance Services’ Cybercrime Summit
• the Home Secretary’s speech at the Women’s Institute and Prison Reform Trust “Care not Custody” conference
• the Home Secretary’s statement to parliament on child abuse investigations